Pletcher works Malathaat, Life Is Good
ELMONT, N.Y. – Malathaat, the leading 3-year-old filly in the country based on three Grade 1 stakes wins, returned to the work tab over the weekend as she stepped up preparations for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
Malathaat, working on the inside of Vacay, went a half-mile in 49.57 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. It was her first move since she won the Alabama on Aug. 21 at Saratoga.
“I thought she went great,” Pletcher said. “She just kind of went easy; she was happy to get back to work and we’ll continue on to the Distaff.”
In addition to the Alabama, Malathaat this year has won the Kentucky Oaks and Ashland. She suffered her lone defeat from seven career starts when beaten a head by Maracuja in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.
Among the other notable workers for Pletcher on Saturday was Life Is Good, who went a half-mile in 48.42 seconds by himself over the Belmont training track.
Pletcher is planning to run Life Is Good in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Kelso Handicap, a one-turn mile race at Belmont, as a stepping-stone to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
The Kelso, a little uncertain to fill last Friday, did pick up a few supplemental nominations on Sunday, including Thomas Shelby and Arham, the latter trained by Pletcher and entered in an allowance race Thursday at Belmont. Both Thomas Shelby and Fort Peck are trained by Robertino Diodoro, and both are possible to run. Mo Mosa is expected to start, and Chance It is now possible.
Pletcher’s roster for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile grew over the weekend when he sent out Major General to victory in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs. The son of Constitution won the Iroquois by a neck, which gave him an automatic spot in the Juvenile.
“I thought it was good, he overcame a little bit of traffic in the first turn, he made up some ground, put in a good drive similar to what he did in his maiden race,” Pletcher said. “For a second start, I thought it was pretty good.”
Pletcher said Major General was due to return to Saratoga and eventually make his way to Belmont to train up to the Juvenile. Pletcher has four other 2-year-olds who will be given the chance to earn a spot in the Juvenile. The stakes winner Wit and impressive debut winner My Prankster will run in the Champagne on Oct. 2 at Belmont. Two-time stakes winner Double Thunder and Keepcalmcarryon will be pointed to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 9 at Keeneland.