2022 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Replay | Malathaat Nips Blue Stripe, Clairiere In Thriller

The Racing Dudes react to Malathaat winning the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland in a 3-way photo finish with Blue Stripe and Clairiere Watch the replay for the Racing Dudes’ INSTANT reactions, then tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The track press release:

Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat ($7.76) got up in the final stride to edge 24-1 longshot Blue Stripe (ARG) by a nose with Clairiere another nose back in third in the dramatic 39th running of the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, Malathaat completed the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.07. Malathaat was third in this race last year at Del Mar, beaten a half-length.

It is the third win in the race for both Pletcher and Velazquez. The two teamed up in 2004 with Ashado with Pletcher getting his second Distaff victory at Keeneland in 2015 with Stopchargingmaria while Velazquez got his second in 2017 with Forever Unbridled. Society led the field a half-mile in :47.29 while under pressure from Blue Stripe and Search Results as Malathaat raced near the back of the eight-horse field.

Society carried her lead to the top of the stretch where Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath and favored Nest challenged to her outside and Blue Stripe surged on the inside.

Secret Oath took over at the three-sixteenths pole but was quickly confronted by Blue Stripe to her outside while Malathaat rallied three-wide and Clairiere slipped through along the rail.

Secret Oath dropped out at midstretch leaving Blue Stripe in charge until the final jump when Malathaat got up.

Now four-for-four at Keeneland, Malathaat is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin out of the A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia. The victory was worth $1,040,000 and increased Malathaat’s earnings to $3,790,825 with a record of 14-10-3-1 that includes five Grade 1 victories.