Botanical laser-focused on the finish line in the 2023 Cincinnati at Turfway Park (Coady Photography)
Botanical, Pretty Mischievous, The Alys Look, Wet Paint, Work For First Friday in May
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— It was a busy Friday morning at Churchill Downs for the 3-year-old fillies preparing for this year’s $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) with Botanical (four furlongs, :48.20), Pretty Mischievous (five furlongs, 1:02), The Alys Look (four furlongs, :48) and Wet Paint (four furlongs, :48) all working toward the first Friday in May.
Godolphin’s Pretty Mischievous was the first filly to work at 5:30 a.m. ET. With Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, the Brendan Walsh-trainee sported blinkers and easily completed fractions of :13, :25.40, and :37.40. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60 and seven-eighths of a mile in 1:27.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
Soon after Pretty Mischievous completed her move, trainer Brad Cox’s trio of Botanical, The Alys Look and Wet Paint were on the track preparing for their workouts.
LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farm’s Botanical, with Chris Landeros up, started about one-length behind stablemate Flashy Gem and finished even at the wire. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20, according to Nichols.
Following Botanical’s move, Dawn and Ike Thrash’s The Alys Look worked inside Godolphin’s Wet Paint. The Alys Look had regular exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard while Wet Paint had Fernando Espinoza in the boot. The duo stayed together throughout their move with a five-furlong gallop out in 1:00.80 and six-furlong time of 1:14, according to Nichols.
“It was a good morning for our Oaks fillies,” Cox said. “We’re three weeks out from the Oaks so things will ramp up from here. We’ll see what happens.”
Cox is scheduled to work Derby contenders Angel of Empire and Jace’s Road on Saturday.
