Trainer and exercise rider Orlando Noda plans to fight the $5,000 fine and 90-day suspension leveled by New York regulators for alleged mistreatment of a horse during training hours at the 2021 Saratoga meet, Daily Racing Form reports.
Donato’s Saratoga selections for Saturday, July 24, 2021 | The Daily Gazette
SECTIONS
Saturday’s featured race is the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks. Run over nine lengths on the main track, it features the smallest field of the meet to date, with only four horses entered. Of those four, all eyes will likely be on undefeated Malathaat (2-5).
The filly was last seen taking the Grade I Kentucky Oaks in April in what has been so far the best of her five career races. The distance suits her, and despite the time off since the Kentucky Oaks, her workouts suggest she is ready to go today. Layoffs do not tend to be a problem for thoroughbreds trained by Todd Pletcher, so one should expect her to continue her winning ways.