Malathaat, the 5-2 post time favorite, battled with Search Results for the length of the stretch and prevailed by a neck in the 147th renewal of the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Travel Column, my Oaks top choice, tried to take them all the way but never could get clear with Moraz breathing down her neck. Pauline’s Pearl chased inside and Search Results stalked outside. Malathaat was kept wide in a good striking position.
Travel Column fended off all challengers and still had the lead turning for home, but Search Results was on the attack and Malathaat was revving up outside. 26-1 longshot Will’s Secret got seriously involved as well and the race was starting to heat up.
Malathaat appeared to have all the momentum and it briefly looked like she would assert her superiority, but Search Results dug in determinedly inside and fought tooth and nail to the wire. Malathaat was moving slightly better outside and would not let Search Results pass her. Those two were 2+ clear of Will’s Secret and Clairiere was another nose back in 4th. Travel Column weakened to 5th and she was followed by Millefeuille, Maracuja, Pauline’s Pearl, Coach, Crazy Beautiful, Moraz, Pass the Champagne, and Competitive Speed. Ava’s Grace scratched.
Malathaat, a beautifully bred million dollar daughter of Curlin, is conditioned by Todd Pletcher and owned by Shadwell Stable. John Velazquez was the winning pilot and she paid $7.00. She ran her record to 5-for-5 and is the clear leader in this division heading into summer.
Search Results lost for the first time in her fourth career start. She has a bright future for Chad Brown. Will’s Secret is just rock solid for Dallas Stewart and Clairire and Travel Column are both capable of winning a graded race later this year. The top five finishers were part of my “Fabulous Five” Oaks contenders and they are all talented in their own right.
That’s a wrap for my Oaks blogs. It was a long, fun ride and the best horse won in the end. I’ll start my Kentucky Oaks 2022 blog and video series later this year. Thanks for watching and reading!
Article by Jarrod Horak
