Wet Paint gets in a morning gallop at Churchill Downs (Coady Photography)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Godolphin’s homebred Wet Paint has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for Friday’s 149th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) for 3-year-old fillies that drew a field of 14 plus three also-eligibles.
The 1 1/8-mile main track test serves as the highlight of Friday’s 13-race program that begins at 10:30 a.m. (all times Eastern). The Kentucky Oaks will go as the day’s 11th race with a 5:51 p.m. post time.
Trained by two-time Kentucky Oaks winner Brad Cox, Wet Point swept the Oaklawn Park series of races for 3-year-old fillies by taking the Martha Washington (Listed), Honeybee (GIII) and Fantasy (GIII).
Flavien Prat, who was aboard for all three of those victories, has the call Friday and will break from post position seven.
Cox, who won the Oaks in 2020 with Shedaresthedevil and in 2018 with Monomoy Girl, also will send out LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farms’ Botanical (4-1) and Ike and Dawn Thrash’s The Alys Look (15-1).
Botanical has won her past four starts over the all-weather surface at Turfway Park. Chris Landeros, who was aboard for all of those victories, has the mount Friday and will break from post position six.
The Alys Look was third in the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) in her most recent start. Javier Castellano, who won the 2016 Oaks on Cathryn Sophia, has the call Friday on The Alys Look and break from post position two.
Third choice on the morning line at 8-1 is Robert Masterson’s Southlawn.
Trained by Norm Casse, Southlawn has won her past two starts with the latter coming in the Fair Grounds Oaks. Rey Gutierrez, who has been aboard for both of those victories, has the call Friday and will break from post position four.
Co-fourth choices at 10-1 are AMO Racing USA’s Affirmative Lady and Godolphin’s Pretty Mischievous.
Affirmative Lady is trained by Graham Motion. Winner of her past two starts since adding blinkers, Affirmative Lady comes into the race off a triumph in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII).
John Velazquez, who won the 2021 Oaks on Malathaat, has the call Friday and will break from post 13.
Brendan Walsh trains Pretty Mischievous. Winner of the Rachel Alexandra (GII) and runner-up in the Fair Grounds Oaks, Pretty Mischievous will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and break from post position 14.
In addition to Cox, Todd Pletcher will be seeking to add to his Oaks victory total when he sends out Repole Stable’s Gambling Girl (15-1) in a bid for a record-tying fifth Oaks triumph.
Second in the Gazelle (GIII) at the Oaks distance of 1 1/8 miles, Gambling Girl will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and break from post position three.
Pletcher also has Stonestreet Stables’ Julia Shining (15-1) on the also-eligible list. A full sister to 2021 Oaks winner Malathaat, Julia Shining was third in the Ashland (GI) in her most recent start.
The record for Oaks victories is five, a mark shared by Woody Stephens and D. Wayne Lukas. In addition to Malathaat, Pletcher has won the Oaks with Princess of Sylmar (2013), Rags to Riches (2007) and Ashado (2004).
The field for the Longines Kentucky Oaks, with riders and morning line odds from the rail out, is: Mimi Kakushi (Mickael Barzalona, 20-1), The Alys Look (Castellano, 15-1), Gambling Girl (Ortiz Jr., 15-1), Southlawn (Gutierrez, 8-1), Wonder Wheel (Joel Rosario, 12-1), Botanical, Landeros, 4-1), Wet Paint (Prat, 5-2), Promiseher America (Jorge Vargas Jr., 30-1), And Tell Me Nolies (Ramon Vazquez, 15-1), Flying Connection (Florent Geroux, 15-1), Defining Purpose (Brian Hernandez Jr., 12-1), Dorth Vader, Luis Saez, 20-1), Affirmative Lady (Velazquez, 10-1), Pretty Mischievous (Gaffalione, 10-1). Also-eligible: Taxed (Rafael Bejarano, 20-1), Julia Shining (Luis Saez, 15-1), Hoosier Philly (Edgar Morales, 30-1).
QUOTES FROM THE 2023 KENTUCKY OAKS POST POSITION DRAW
AFFIRMATIVE LADY (Post 13, 10-1) – trainer Graham Motion: “I’d rather be there than in post 1. That’s for sure.”
BOTANICAL, (Post 6, 4-1), THE ALYS LOOK (Post 2, 15-1), WET PAINT (Post 7, 5-2) – trainer Brad Cox: “I thought it was a good draw for all of these fillies. Botanical and Wet Paint are in the middle of the gate which is fine for both of them. The Alys Look is inside but can work out a trip from there.”
DEFINING PURPOSE (Post 11, 12-1) – trainer Kenny McPeek: “I’ve got a lot of confidence in Brian Hernadez’s ability. He knows this filly. You can over coach these things and overthink them. We’re not going to do that. We’re just going to let it happen and I trust Brian’s judgement.”
GAMBLING GIRL (Post 3, 15-1) – trainer Todd Pletcher: “I’m fine with it. We weren’t too worried about the draw with this filly. She’s tactical.”
PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (Post 14, 10-1) – “It’s not ideal but I’d rather be there than buried down on the inside. She’s easy to ride so it gives us room to maneuver. We’ll try to come up with the best way to work out a good trip.”
PROMISEHER AMERICA (Post 8, 30-1) – trainer Ray Handal: “Really good draw. She can drop right over and get a good trip. We’re going to be forward regardless and leave it up to Jorge (Vargas Jr.) after that.”
SOUTHLAWN (Post 4, 8-1) – trainer Norm Casse: “I think it’s a perfect draw. I played baseball my entire life and I was No. 4. So, it’s my lucky number.”
WONDER WHEEL (Post 5, 12-1) – Kim Valerio, bloodstock agent representing D.J. Stable: “We’re super excited that we drew the same post that we did in the Breeders’ Cup win. Let’s hope she can redeem herself.”
