To view the Chilukki Stakes, click here.

by Patrick Reed

Edward P. Evans’ homebred Malibu Prayer engaged pacesetter and 8-to-5 favorite One Caroline in early stretch and pulled ahead late to post her first career graded stakes victory in the $167,550 Chilukki Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Under a well-timed ride by Chris DeCarlo, the three-year-old Malibu Moon filly shook clear of One Caroline in the final sixteenth and held off fast-closing Copper State to win by one length, covering the one-turn mile in 1:36.24 on a track rated as fast.

Grade 2 winner One Caroline set swift early fractions of :22.47 and :44.87 with modest pressure from Royale Michele. DeCarlo urged Malibu Prayer into contention from her stalking position in third midway through the far turn.

Malibu Prayer and One Caroline commenced to duel for the lead in early stretch as Grade 3 winner Dubai Majesty briefly loomed a threat on the outside. Malibu Prayer, sent off at 5.10-to-1 odds, had enough in reserve to outlast One Caroline and Dubai Majesty late. Grade 1-placed Copper State’s rally from last in the nine-horse field fell short.

One Caroline finished a neck behind in third, 1¼ lengths ahead of Dubai Majesty. Ruffian Handicap (G1) winner Swift Temper never fired and finished sixth.

Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) winner Payton d’Oro finished fifth on trainer Larry Jones’ final day before retirement. Jones will transfer all of the horses in his stable to his wife, Cindy.

Malibu Prayer broke through in her third career start with a 13-length maiden victory going one mile at Aqueduct on April 17 for trainer Todd Pletcher. She followed with a sharp allowance score at Philadelphia Park on June 2 before finishing second in three straight graded stakes races—the Mother Goose Stakes (G1), Delaware Oaks (G2), and Monmouth Oaks (G2). Cutting back to a one-turn mile at Belmont, Malibu Prayer earned her first stakes win with a 6 ¾-length score in the Cat Chat Stakes on September 23 in her previous start.

With her Chilukki win, Malibu Prayer improved her career record to four wins in nine starts with earnings of $348,526. The Virginia-bred is the first winner of the stakes-winning Grand Slam mare Grand Prayer, a half sister to Grade 2 winner Tap Dance.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Patrick Reed is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer