Kentucky Oaks 2023 Report: Wet Paint wins again

By Jarrod Horak

Affirmative Lady and Wet Paint were the big winners in the latest road to Kentucky Oaks 2023 points races. The former has been thriving at Gulfstream Park this year and is on the upswing for Graham Motion, and the latter is the queen of Oaklawn Park following stakes wins in the Martha Washington, Honeybee, and Fantasy.   

In other Oaks news, 2-year-old filly champ Wonder Wheel heads to Keeneland for her final Oaks prep in the Ashland Stakes on April 7. She will face Julia Shining once again. She finished a bit more than a length in front of that one in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.  

Kentucky Oaks 2023 Points Race Results

GP Oaks (4-1-23): Affirmative Lady

Miracle was the 2-1 favorite after controlling the pace and finishing a clear 2nd in the Rachel Alexandra (G2). She did not get close to the early lead in this spot. Instead, it was 30-1 longshot Flakes carving out the fractions from the inside post. Infinite Diamond and Dorth Vader chased, and Affirmative Lady was in a nice spot in 4th. The latter came after Flakes in the lane and pulled clear to win by two lengths. Sacred Wish rallied wide from the back of the pace to complete the exacta, and Flakes held the show. Dorth Vader made a menacing move and looked like she might win, but the added ground got to her and she faltered after grabbing the lead in the lane. Miracle was a flat 5th and Infinite Diamond, a very disappointing Atomically, and Just Katherine completed the order of finish. The final time was 1:44.69 and the winner ran a quality race for Saez/Motion. The daughter of Arrogate should continue to improve this year. 

Fantasy Stakes (4-1-23): Wet Paint

Wet Paint cruised from off the pace in all three Oaks preps at Oaklawn Park. She won the Martha Washington and Honeybee (G3), and the track was wet both times. The track was fast for the Fantasy (G3) and she basically duplicated her first two local scores. She sat back in last, moved up outside, and kicked away to win by 2 1/2 lengths under Flavien Prat. Taxed sat in midpack and garnered the place at 33-1, and Olivia Twist, the longest shot on the board, grabbed the show at 50-1. Condensation chased the pace from the outside post and was best of the rest in 4th. Grand Love set the pace and faded to 5th, and was followed by Pate, Towhead, Take Charge Briana, Royal Spa, and She’s Lookin Lucky. The final time was 1:44.08. Wet Paint has a nice pedigree and fine connections in her corner, but she kept beating up on the same foes in Arkansas and her closing style is a concern going forward.   

Kentucky Oaks 2023 Points Race Results 

Pocahontas (10-4-3-2-1) – Sep. 17 – Winner: Fun and Feisty ($14.46)

Frizette (10-4-3-2-1) – Oct. 2 – Winner: Chocolate Gelato ($5.30)

Alcibiades (10-4-3-2-1) – Oct. 7 – Winner: Wonder Wheel ($10.20) 

Chandelier (10-4-3-2-1) – Oct. 8 – Winner: And Tell Me Nolies ($18.80)

BC Juvenile Fillies (30-12-9-6-3) – Nov. 4 – Winner: Wonder Wheel ($15.00)

Golden Rod (10-4-3-2-1) – Nov. 26 – Winner: Hoosier Philly ($2.96)

Demoiselle (10-4-3-2-1) – Dec. 3 – Winner: Julia Shining ($3.10)

Starlet (10-4-3-2-1) – Dec. 10 – Winner: Faiza ($3.00)

Untapable (10-4-3-2-1) – Dec. 26 – Winner: Pretty Mischievous ($5.40)

Sant Ynez (10-4-3-2-1) – Jan. 8 – Winner: Ice Dancing ($3.00) 

Busanda (20-8-6-4-2) – Jan. 14 – Winner: Occult ($4.80)

Silverbulletday (20-8-6-4-2) – Jan. 21 – Winner: The Alys Look ($6.60)

Martha Washington (20-8-6-4-2) – Jan. 28 – Wet Paint ($8.00)  

Las Virgenes (20-8-6-4-2) – Jan. 28 – Faiza ($4.00)

Forward Gal (20-8-6-4-2) – Feb. 4 – Red Carpet Ready ($6.60)

Suncoast (20-8-6-4-2) – Feb. 11 – Dreaming of Snow ($78.00)

UAE Oaks (50-20-15-10-5) – Feb. 17 – Mimi Kakushi 

Rachel Alexandra (50-20-15-10-5) – Feb. 18 – Pretty Mischievous ($18.20)

Honeybee (50-20-10-5) – Feb. 25 – Wet Paint ($5.40)

Busher (50-20-15-10-5) – March 4 – Winner: Shidabhuti ($12.60)

Cincinnati Trophy (20-8-6-4-2) – March 4: Botanical ($3.90)

Davona Dale (50-20-10-5) – March 4 – Winner: Dorth Vader ($95.40)

Santa Ysabel (50-20-15-10-5) – March 5 – Winner: Faiza ($3.60)

FG Oaks (100-40-30-20-10) – March 25 – Winner: Southlawn ($17.40)

Bourbonette Oaks (50-20-15-10-5) – March 25 – Winner: Botanical ($4.06)

Sunland Park Oaks (50-20-15-10-5) – March 26 – Winner: Flying Connection ($4.60)

GP Oaks (100-40-30-20-10) – April 1 – Winner:Affirmative Lady ($19.00) 

Fantasy (100-40-30-20-10) – April 1- Winner: Wet Paint ($3.20)

Ashland (100-40-30-20-10) – April 7 

Gazelle (100-40-30-20-10) – April 8 

SA Oaks (100-40-30-20-10) – April 8

Beaumont (10-4-3-2-1) – April 16 

Top 30 Kentucky Oaks Points Leaders (through 4-6-23)

170 Points: Wet Paint

110 Points: Affirmative Lady 

103 Points: Pretty Mischievous

100 Points: Southlawn

70 Points: Botanical

70 Points: Dorth Vader 

54 Points: The Alys Look

50 Points: Flying Connection

50 Points: Mimi Kakushi

50 Points: Shidabhuti

48 Points: Wonder Wheel

48 Points: Taxed

45 Points: Hoosier Philly

40 Points: Condensation (14th place)

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35 Points: Red Carpet Ready

32 Points: Olivia Twist

30 Points: And Tell Me Nolies

30 Points: Miracle

28 Points: Grand Love

21 Points: Gambling Girl

20 Points: Dreaming of Snow

20 Points: Flashy Gem

20 Points: Occult

20 Points: Asset Purchase

20 Points: Guns n’ Graces

19 Points: Justique

17 Points: Chop Chop

17 Points: Pride of the Nile

16 Points: Julia Shining

16 Points: Blessed Touch

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Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2023 Contenders (4-6-23)   

#1 – JULIA SHINING – Demoiselle winner 3rd in Suncoast return. 4f breeze in 50.43 March 31. 

Curlin – Dreaming of Julia, by A. P. Indy – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Next Start: Ashland   

#2 –  OCCULT – Easily took Busanda at 9f Jan. 14. Breezed 4f in 48.48 at Belmont March 31. 

Into Mischief – Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker – Trainer: Chad Brown – Next Start: Gazelle    

#3 – WONDER WHEEL – Missed by neck in Suncoast return. Breezed 4f at KEE March 30.  

Into Mischief – Wonder Gal, by Tiz Wonderful – Trainer: Mark Casse – Next Start: Ashland

#4 – SOUTHLAWN – Rapidly improving filly was sharp from off the pace in FG Oaks. 

Pioneerof the Nile – Mo d’Amour, by Uncle Mo – Trainer: Norm Casse – Next Starts: KY Oaks 

#5 – PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS – Rachel Alexandra winner second best in FG Oaks.  

Into Mischief – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit – Trainer: Brendan Walsh  – Next Start: KY Oaks