HORSE RACING

Keeneland's Doubledogdare Stakes Announces Contenders and Odds for 4/22/22

Champion Malathaat Returns in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes. (NYRA/Coglianese photo)
Post PositionHorse and Morning Line Odds
1Malathaat (4-5)
2Super Quick (12-1)
3Audrey's Time (12-1)
4Bonny South (8-5)
5Crazy Beautiful (6-1)
6Lady Mystify (15-1)

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Champion Malathaat Makes Seasonal Bow in Doubledogdare

Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2021, will make her 4-year-old debut on April 22 when she headlines a field of six fillies and mares for the 27th running of the $300,000 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) going 1 1/16-miles at Keeneland.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Malathaat compiled a 5-3-1-1 record last year highlighted en route to earning the Eclipse Award for divisional honors. The daughter of Curlin dominated the sophomore filly ranks in 2021 with victories in the Ashland Stakes (G1), Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Alabama (G1) before culminating her season with a third-place finish against older females in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar.

Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings out of Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia, Malathaat was purchased for $1.05 million by Shadwell out of the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The bay filly won the Ashland Stakes by a head last April in her only race over the Keeneland track.

John Velazquez, who has won this race five times including all four of Pletcher’s victories, has the mount Friday and will break from post one.

Also making her 2022 debut is defending race winner Bonny South. The Juddmonte homebred trained by Brad Cox is seeking to become the first horse to win the Doubledogdare in consecutive years. Four times graded stakes-placed in 2021, Bonny South will be making her first start since finishing second in the 2021 Falls City Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs last November.

Trainer Neil Pessin is hoping to pull the upset in the Doubledogdare with Lothenbach Stables’ Audrey’s Time. In her most recent start, Audrey’s Time chased Grade 1 winner Clairiere in an allowance race at Fair Grounds. On Friday, she will take on Eclipse Award winner Malathaat, who will be making her 4-year-old debut.

In her most recent start, Audrey’s Time chased Grade 1 winner Clairiere in an allowance race at Fair Grounds and was previously third in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3)

"This is her home base, and you’ve got to run somewhere,” said Pessin of Audrey’s Time, who will break from post three under Corey Lanerie. “I have no delusions of grandeur, and I will be the most surprised person in the grandstand if she wins."