Handicapping the 149th Kentucky Oaks

By Rick Francis —-

A full starting gate of fourteen 3-year-old fillies go to post for the 149th running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Several of these sophomore ladies have faced each other on their “Road to the Oaks” campaign so a heated contest can be assured; let’s take a look at the contenders.

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Race 11) 1&1/8th Mile. Longines Kentucky Oaks Grade I. Purse $1,250,000 FOR FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD
Post Time: ( 5:51)/ 4:51/ 3:51/ 2:51

11) Defining Purpose – out of Cross Traffic, filly ran a textbook Grade 1 Ashland last out odds of 20-1, stalking then clearing. A couple of very strong works here shows that Ashland score might not have been a fluke.

7) Wet Paint – Blame filly enters having won 3 straight, all stakes; if you can take the inevitable short price, she’s your girl; obvious win threat.

4) Southlawn – by Pioneerof the Nile, she surprised many with her rallying stretch run to take the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks by just over three lenghts; she’s another working lights out here.

14) Pretty Mischievous – Into Mischief daughter was caught by the aforementioned in that Fair Grounds Oaks stretch duel; she’s a 4-time winner with two of those victories coming over this course.

SELECTIONS: 11, 7, 4, 14

The field for the 149th running of the Kentucky Oaks:

1) Mimi Kakushi (bin Ghadayer/Baralona)
2) The Alys Look (Cox/Castellano)
3) Gambling Girl (Pletcher/Ortiz, I. Jr)
4) Southlawn (Casse, N./Gutierrez)
5) Wonder Wheel ( Casse, M./Rosario)
6) Botanical (Cox/Landeros)
7) Wet Paint (Cox/Prat)
8) Promiseher America (Handal/Vargas)
9) And Tell Me Nolies (Miller/Vazquez)
10) Flying Connection ( Fincher/Geroux)
11) Defining Purpose (McPeek/Hernandez, B. Jr)
12) Dorth Vader (Yates/Saez)
13) Affirmative Lady (Motion/Velazquez)
14) Pretty Mischievous (Walsh/Gaffalone)