LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farm's Botanical kept her undefeated streak at Turfway Park intact with a 2½-length victory in Saturday's $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks.
Botanical's victory in the Bourbonette Oaks also gave her rider Chris Landeros his third stakes victory on the Jeff Ruby Steaks program. Landeros earlier won the $250,000 Rushaway Stakes with Rarified Flair and $250,000 Latonia Stakes aboard Idiomatic.
Trained by Brad Cox, Botanical completed the 1 1/16-mile Bourbonette Oaks in 1:44.47 on all-weather track.
Botanical earned 50 points for her victory in the Bourbonette Oaks – a Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifying event. Her stablemate Flashy Gem earned 20 points, while non-Kentucky Oaks nominees Thirty Thou Kelvin received 15 points and Miss New York tabbed 10 points. Fifth-place finisher Ag Bullet added five points.
Botanical broke well at the start of the Bourbonette Oaks and was immediately taken to the lead under Landeros. Botanical easily completed a quarter mile in :24.58, and Landeros kept her well-rated up the backside through a half-mile of :48.51. At the three-sixteenths pole, Botanical was joined briefly to her outside by her stablemate Flashy Gem but easily kicked clear in deep stretch.
“I can't really tell you exactly what made her who she is today but she seems to be getting better with every race,” assistant trainer Tessa Walden said. “I think anytime you get in a race like the Kentucky Oaks you will go there. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Thirty Thou Kelvin completed the trifecta followed by Miss New York, Ag Bullet, Always At Ease, Shewillghostu, Renegade Rebel, Bolivie, and Medaglia Forever.
Botanical was the even-money post time favorite and paid $4.06 for the win. Flashy Gem, under John Velazquez, was second, seven length in front of Thirty Thou Kelvin, ridden by Gerardo Corrales.
Botanical is a 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of the Blame mare Daisy. She was bred in the Bluegrass State by Clearsky Farms and Godolphin.
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