Bittersweet isn't exactly accurate, since both the bitter and sweet flavors of Friday's race at Churchill Downs were tangible. Malathaat of Shadwell Stable, wearing the colors of the late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crossed the finish line first in Friday's Grade 1, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks, in five weeks after her holder, patriarch of the multinational powerhouse Shadwell operation—passed away at the age of 75.

The blue-blooded $1.05 million Keeneland September 2019 buy, trained by 2021 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame finalist Todd Pletcher and ridden by 2012 inductee John Velazquez, offered some peace and comfort for connections already enduring the pain of mourning such a global racing icon—a champion known for his generosity, compassion, and palpable love for the sport of horse racing. The race is America's top filly race, first in the classic for any member of the Maktoum family.

“A million thoughts have been racing across my mind,” said Rick Nichols, Vice President and General Manager of Kentucky's Shadwell Farm and a lifelong friend and employee of Sheikh Hamdan.

“This is a success for Sheikh Hamdan's family and all of our operations in the US, and Derrinstown in Ireland, Shadwell Estate in England, all his horses in Dubai—all the barns.”

“I'm sure they all were observing. We've learned that many people in Dubai stayed up late to watch. You know, we lost the boss in such a way, and he was the leading owner in Europe last year—and we have many good horses in our stable this year. “And seeing Malathaat come up and hand him an Oaks victory is more than we might have asked for.

“Sheikh Hamdan was such an influence in racing in England, Ireland, and the United States,” Nichols added.

“He was so encouraging. He was passionate about the sport. And in his advanced age, he maintained his enthusiasm for it. I recall last year, when he was speaking about (Battaash) and comparing him to Dayjur, you could see the enthusiasm in his voice, as if he was certain Dayjur was superior because Dayjur was just three years old (when winning multiple Group 1s).

On June 1st, I've been with him for 36 years. He was a dear friend. He was a father figure at times, a brother at others, and a friend at others—but he was still the boss. I was madly in love with him. He will be sorely missed.”

Curlin's daughter had a difficult race ahead of her. She and Velazquez seemed to be compressed at the outset and had to struggle for the win at the end. Her pilot said that after the race that the victory margin was a little misleading. She surged ahead of chief business competitor Search Results from the dominant Chad Brown stable and kept her rival at the wire by a calculated neck.

“She didn't have the best of starts, but I got a spot with her. She was going well, and when I turned back toward home, I had a goal (Search Results) to take her after. We got up beside her, and my filly passed by. She then paused for a moment, as she always does. The other filly returned, but I could say I was still in charge. I never expected to do anything more than win.” Velazquez said.

Todd Pletcher, who was lately taken into the Shadwell fold, had bred Malathaat's mum, Dreaming of Julia, to finish fourth as the 3-2 favorite in the 2013 Kentucky Oaks after a rocky start from something she never recovered. Pletcher's 165th Grade 1 victory was an incredible feat. He was very satisfied with how she emerged out of the race on Saturday morning and reported that races like the Belmont Stakes (G1) are conceivable for the five-for-five fee.

“She took a little longer to get away from there, but Johnny pushed her up and had her with a much better position,” Pletcher reflected.

“He had to give up some ground and go big in an attempt to do so. She's looking for a goal to sprint towards, and she's found one. I'm overjoyed with the results.”

 “We genuinely believed she'd be this successful because she practiced brilliantly in the past, much before her debut. She won outstandingly there and has only gotten better. She is, merely a star.

“She'll go to Belmont at some stage, but we'll wait and see how the Derby goes for our other horses before making a decision.”

Pletcher was pleased with Shadwell's Ajaaweed, who ran admirably in his first attempt at a distance of the track, finishing second in the 11-furlong Flat Out Stakes (Listed). He could appear at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in New York in the first weekend of June.

“I guess we discovered what he was looking for, and ended up running a mile and three-eighths,” Pletcher said. “We're hoping to race him in the (Grade 2) Brooklyn Handicap over a mile and a half the next time.”