Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (m, 5, Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant Gizmo), who so often shows her best on the front end, took her California tactics on the road with a 5 1/2-length score in Oaklawn's $1.25-million GI Apple Blossom S. Saturday while conceding between one and six pounds to her rivals. Flying Connection (Nyquist), who shipped in from Sunland Park after three straight stakes wins in New Mexico for the red-hot Todd Fincher barn, closed late to nab second over Mar. 24 Shantel Lanerie S. winner Free Like a Girl (El Deal). Last year's GI CCA Oaks winner Wet Paint (Blame), previously unbeaten in three stakes at Oaklawn, never got involved and finished sixth.

The 3-5 choice, Adare Manor showed old habits die hard as she went clear early under Juan Hernandez, running comfortably with her ears flicking back and forth, and set fractions of :23.68 and :46.95 while Honor D Lady (Honor Code) applied pressure to her outside. Even while Honor D Lady loomed and last summer's GIII Molly Pitcher S. winner Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) threw her hat into the mix, Adare Manor never looked seriously threatened. She quickened on the turn, kicked clear with ease and opened up by daylight to hasten home an authoritative winner while Hernandez took a peek under his right arm as the pair's distance on the field remained intact. She got the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.48.

“[Trainer Bob Baffert] had her ready today,” said Hernandez. “They had a lot of confidence in her. I just felt it right away when I jumped on her. She was so calm and she was ready to run great. She loves a mile and a sixteenth. If you saw her, she's huge. She's really a big filly, so she needs a lot of distance in her races.”

A $375,000 Donato Lanni purchase at the 2021 OBS June sale after working a furlong in :10 1/5, Adare Manor won the GIII Las Virgenes S. at three by 13 lengths, had a five-win streak going at four that included the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. and three other graded races, and kickstarted her 5-year-old campaign with a 102 Beyer as the runner-up in the GI Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita Mar. 9. Seven of her eight career wins have been on the front end, with the lone exception being a stalking trip in last summer's Clement L. Hirsch.

Pedigree Notes:

Adare Manor is one of 49 graded winners and 100 black-type winners overall for exceptional Coolmore America stallion Uncle Mo, a regular among North America's leading sires. She is the second of her sire's progeny to win the Apple Blossom following Unbridled Mo's victory in 2018. She is, however, the lone stakes winner to date out of a Giant Gizmo mare. The latter was relocated to Panama following the 2019 breeding season after standing at Canada's Gardiner Farm. Uncle Mo does have four stakes winners out of mares by Giant Gizmo's sire, the late Giant's Causeway, who was a fellow Coolmore sire, as well as Mar. 30 GI Florida Derby third Grand Mo the First.

Stock in Brooklynsway has risen dramatically since Adare Manor's assent up the stakes ranks. Winner of the 2016 GIII Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland, she was a $170,000 RNA at Fasig-Tipton's November sale in 2017, then went through the same ring in 2020 at the Winter Mixed Sale, where Town & Country picked her up in foal to Into Mischief for $95,000. Adare Manor, then a short yearling, sold at the same sale to Walmac Farms and Gary Board for $180,000 before being pinhooked the next year. Brooklynsway has a 2-year-old filly by Ghostzapper named Nosleeptilbrooklyn, who went to Boardshorts Stables at Keeneland September for $500,000, and a yearling full-brother to Adare Manor. The mare was a $1.2-million RNA at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale; she has aborted her 2024 Tapit foal.

#4 ADARE MANOR scampered away!

The 3-5 choice wins the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) under @JJHernandezS19 for trainer Bob Baffert. She is a daughter of @coolmoreamerica Uncle Mo that runs for Michael Lund Petersen. pic.twitter.com/qxBxmK8wVV

— TVG (@TVG) April 13, 2024

Saturday, Oaklawn
APPLE BLOSSOM H.-GI, $1,250,000, Oaklawn, 4-13, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:42.48, ft.
1–ADARE MANOR, 123, m, 5, by Uncle Mo
       1st Dam: Brooklynsway (GSW-USA, MSW &
                 GSP-Can, $724,597), by Giant Gizmo
       2nd Dam: Explosive Story, by Radio Star
       3rd Dam: Maya's Note, by Editor's Note
($180,000 Ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL;
$375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town
& Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert;
J-Juan J. Hernandez. $675,000. Lifetime Record: 16-8-5-0,
$1,736,600. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Flying Connection, 118, f, 4, by Nyquist
                1st Dam: Free Flying Soul (MSW & MGISP, $423,177),
                                 by Quiet American
                2nd Dam: Ruby Surprise, by Farma Way
                3rd Dam: Santa Rosalia, by Bold Bidder
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Brad King,
Randy Andrews, G. Chris Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby
and Lee Lewis; B-Liberty Road Stables (KY); T-Todd W. Fincher.
$225,000.
3–Free Like a Girl, 117, m, 5, by El Deal
                1st Dam: Flashy Prize, by Flashy Bull
                2nd Dam: Rich Peace, by Rizzi
                3rd Dam: Lockpeace, by Hold Your Peace
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($5,500 Ylg '20 ESLYRL). O-Gerald Bruno,
Jr., Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom; B-Kim Renee
Stover & Lisa Osborne (LA); T-Chasey Deville Pomier.
$112,500.
Margins: 5HF, 3/4, 2. Odds: 0.70, 26.20, 58.30.
Also Ran: Shotgun Hottie, Taxed, Wet Paint, Bellamore, Misty Veil, Honor D Lady.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Beautifully into stride from the eight hole, Randomized made a bee line towards the fence and raced eagerly under the wire for the first time as the outposted Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) did the chasing to her outside. The opening quarter split was strong enough–:23.45–but Rosario had Randomized nicely in hand with a one-length advantage turning up the Saratoga backstretch. The $420,000 Keeneland September purchase switched off well, covering an internal half-mile in :48.88, and was urged along mildly rounding the turn as Brian Hernandez, Jr. began to get serious atop Defining Purpose. Favored Wet Paint (Blame), who had raced closer to the pace than usual, was beginning to find her best stride at the fence as Randomized rolled out into the four path in upper stretch, but she found plenty in the final furlong and was home a clear-cut winner.

A debut third sprinting here last July, Randomized graduated by an imposing 5 1/2 lengths going Aqueduct's one-turn mile Mar. 31, but was no better than a distant sixth of eight when tried in the GI Acorn S. at Belmont June 9. The bay regrouped in the restricted Wilton S. going Saratoga's modified one-turn mile July 14 and made every yard, earning a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

Chad Brown was giving full marks to owner Seth Klarman for the decision to run Saturday.

“I wasn't real confident [about the 10 furlongs]. I was confident that she would run a real good race,” said the trainer, who saddled Dunbar Road (Quality Road) to win the 2019 Alabama, also her fifth career start. “I was really just going to rest her for the [GI] Cotillion [S.] at a mile and a sixteenth. As it got closer and I reported she was breezing well, I said, 'let's at least enter and look at the pace scenario.' We talked about it the other day and he said, 'if you're willing to do it, I have a good feeling about this.' He was right.”

Pedigree Notes:

Randomized is the ninth graded winner for Darley America's Nyquist and his third Grade I scorer, joining first-crop produce Vequist and Gretzky the Great, and she is the 15th worldwide elite-level winner produced by a daughter of the late Elusive Quality.

Richard and Connie Snyder's Cove Springs acquired French Passport, a half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz), GSW Overdriven (Tale of the Cat) and the dam of MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy), for $200,000 in foal to American Pharoah at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. Klaravich also owns the 2-year-old half-brother to Randomized, Marginal Cost (Justify), who fetched $10,000 less than his half-sister at KEESEP last year. French Passport is also responsible for a Frosted filly that is cataloged to sell with Hidden Brook as hip 1711 at Keeneland next month and a weanling filly by Maxfield.

Saturday, Saratoga
ALABAMA S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SALES-GI, $600,000, Saratoga, 8-19, 3yo, f, 1 1/4m, 2:03.07, ft.
1–RANDOMIZED, 121, f, 3, by Nyquist
1st Dam: French Passport, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Air France, by French Deputy
3rd Dam: Twin Propeller, by Known Fact
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($420,000 Ylg
'21 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown; J-Joel Rosario. $330,000. Lifetime Record:
5-3-0-1, $465,850. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Wet Paint, 121, f, 3, by Blame
1st Dam: Sky Painter (GSP, $169,755), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Skylighter, by Sky Mesa
3rd Dam: Painted Lady, by Broad Brush
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $120,000.
3–Defining Purpose, 121, f, 3, by Cross Traffic
1st Dam: Defining Hope (MSW, $306,238), by Strong Hope
2nd Dam: On the Point, by Point Given
3rd Dam: Longingtobeme, by Belong to Me
($14,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEEJAN). O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Colette
Marie VanMatre (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $72,000.
Margins: 4, 1HF, 8HF. Odds: 7.10, 1.90, 14.20.
Also Ran: Sabra Tuff, Gambling Girl, Taxed, Sacred Wish, Fireline, Julia Shining, Chocolate Gelato.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

RANDOMIZED, by @DarleyStallions Nyquist, wins the Alabama Stakes pres. by @keenelandsales (G1) impressively under @JRosarioJockey for Chad Brown! #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/iPIwCsSV57

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 19, 2023

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Now owned by one of the world's top breeding operations, Yoshida's Northern Farm, the gray 3-year-old filly was rejected by buyers when she was offered at sale as a short yearling at Keeneland in January 2021. Colette VanMatre, the Indiana businesswomen who runs a tiny breeding business, decided she would race Defining Purpose. Last year, VanMatre reached out to trainer Kenny McPeek, who agreed to assess the filly and deemed her a racing prospect.

On VanMatre's request, McPeek brought in partners, including Magdalena Racing, run by his wife Sherri. Defining Purpose broke her maiden at Churchill Downs in her second start on Nov. 17 and secured some black type on Dec. 31 with a win in the Year's End S. at Oaklawn Park. Three races later, she pulled off a 20-1 upset in the Grade I Ashland S. at Keeneland on April 7. When Yoshida completed the private purchase for over $1 million after her seventh-place finish in the GI Kentucky Oaks, Defining Purpose had earned $556,188 in purse money for the VanMatre-McPeek group.

Yoshida left her in McPeek's care and he saddled her for a 1 ¼-length score in the GIII Indiana Oaks on July 8.

Among the fillies, Defining Purpose is scheduled to face in the historic Alabama is the Godolphin homebred Wet Paint, whom she has finished behind in three races this year.

McPeek, twice a winner of the Alabama, said the race was not part of his long-term plan for Defining Purpose.

“Actually, I was probably leaning against it until she ran so well in the Indiana Oaks,” he said. “Then, as she's gone on, physically and timing-wise it looks like it's an ideal spot for her. Having a chance to see who she might run against is going to be interesting. Look, she deserves a chance in another Grade I.”

With the Ashland victory, Defining Purpose had plenty of points to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. As is her style, she was prominent early under Brian Hernandez, Jr., but weakened in the stretch.

“She ran kind of flat that day. She didn't fire her best shot,” McPeek said. “She does better when we space her races pretty good. I think that five, six, seven weeks is really good for her. She's had a pretty good spacing for this one.”

Defining Purpose came to Saratoga after her Indiana Oaks triumph over Taxed (Collected), who she will face again the Alabama, and has worked three times.

VanMatre is a commercial property manager in the Indianapolis metro area. About 15 years ago, she became interested in trying to develop a second business that she could do in retirement. VanMatre had a friend who bred dogs and since she was a fan of racing, decided to breed Thoroughbreds. In 2010, she purchased for $2,000 On the Point (Point Given), an unraced 3-year-old Pennsylvania-bred, who has become the foundation mare of VanMatre's On the Point Stable.

On the Point's first foal did not make it to the races, but the second, the Indiana-bred 2014 filly Defining Hope became a successful race horse for the breeder and now owner. In the care of trainer Barbara McBride, she compiled a record of 5-2-2 from 12 starts, was the top state-bred filly at 2 and 3 and earned $306,238. She was retired at the end of 2017 and joined her dam in VanMatre's broodmare band. Following the recommendation of Cecil Seaman, she sent Defining Hope to Cross Traffic in 2019 and the mating produced the second foal, Defining Purpose. Her 2-year-old filly Defining Joy (Runhappy) is being prepared for the races by McPeek. She was bred back to Cross Traffic this year.

“The contract was already signed for a repeat on Cross Traffic,” VanMatre said. “I really liked what I got with Defining Purpose. That decision was already made before she won the Ashland.”

VanMatre intended to sell Defining Purpose, who is a Kentucky-bred foaled at Margaux Farm, as a short-yearling, but ended up retaining her as an RNA when bidding stopped at $14,000. In an interview after the Ashland victory, VanMatre said, “When she didn't sell and meet her reserve, I thought, there's a reason–there's a purpose–that she's still mine.” VanMatre had a name for her youngster and set out to find a trainer for her. She compiled some names of candidates and asked for advice. VanMatre said that Michael Hardy, the former general manager at Margaux and now head of sales at Goffs, pointed her toward McPeek.

Defining Purpose | Mike Kane

“He said, 'Well, based on your list, I think Kenny would make the best match for you,'” she said. “I thought so, too, because he really is all about developing the bloodline, and he's just a good horseman.”

VanMatre contacted McPeek, who said he would take a look at Defining Purpose.

“She came into us as kind of nondescript 2-year-old filly,” McPeek said. “I didn't know a lot about her when she came in or the breeder.  When she sent her to us, she kept saying 'What do you think? What do you think?' We worked her a couple times and the filly is a pretty nice filly. She's doing everything right. She's willing and she's fast and she showed some early talent.”

McPeek agreed to train her and to Matre's request to find some partners. He established her value based on how she looked and trained and Magdalena and James Ball bought in.

“When we went to run her, I looked and saw that she was $14,000 as a short yearling,” McPeek said with a chuckle. “That kind of surprised me because I thought she was worth a lot more than that. And obviously she is.”

After the maiden win, McPeek ran her back nine days later in the GII Golden Rod S., where she was fifth of eight. From there, she was off to Oaklawn and showed herself to be a stakes-caliber runner against the likes of Wet Paint (Curlin) and Taxed.

“She jumped through a lot of hoops and seemed like the more we asked her the better she did,” he said.

McPeek felt that she fell off form a bit in two races over wet tracks at Oaklawn, but wanted to try her in the Ashland.

“I told the group, 'Look, if she's ever going to win a Grade I, if we space her here, I think this is the best shot she'll have.' And she pulled it off. She keeps that the rest of her life.”

Following the Ashland, McPeek was approached by a representative of Yoshida. The sale was finalized after the Kentucky Oaks.

“Mr. Yoshida elected keep her with me a little longer,” McPeek said. “I'm not sure how many years she'll race but we're thrilled to keep her in the barn.”

Much has changed with Defining Purpose since McPeek took VanMatre's call.

“She's gone from $14,000 RNA to a seven-figure-plus filly and now with a shot to win a second Grade I,” he said. “The Alabama, I've won it a couple of times. I think she's the kind of filly that could handle it.”

VanMatre will be watching the Alabama back in Indiana. Her plan to get into something she could carry on into retirement has gone from a small investment 13 years ago into a big payoff in 2023.

“Yeah,” she said, “it's kind of surreal.”

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“It is a Cinderella story. It's something that doesn't happen very often,” Bahde said. “I'm sure that over time there have been $50,000 claiming horses that have gone on to win graded stakes races, but there's just not that many.”

Veteran trainer Randy Morse claimed the gray filly for Bahde at Churchill Downs on Nov. 20 in her third career start and first in claiming company. She won that race, has since won the GII Black-Eyed Susan and has placed second in a pair of GIII starts.

“When we talked about possibly claiming her, we did a lot of research, of course, looked at her previous two races and just felt like there was something there,” Bahde said. “As it turned out, there was really something there.”

In the 1 1/4 miles $600,000 Alabama for 3-year-old fillies, Taxed will reconnect with a pair of familiar foes: the Godolphin homebred Wet Paint (Blame) and Katsumi Yoshida's Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic).

“Pretty Ironic,” Morse said. “Go all the way to New York and go look at the same horses I was running against all winter at Oaklawn Park.”

Taxed was fourth in Defining Purpose's victory in the Year's End Stakes on Dec. 31, then second to Wet Paint and three-quarters of a length ahead of Defining Purpose in the Martha Washington S. on Jan. 28. Wet Paint won the GIII Honeybee on Feb. 25 with Defining Purpose sixth and Taxed ninth after pressing the pace from her outside post.

Morse watched Taxed fade in the stretch and figured it was time to make a change with the oh-so determined, sometimes rank filly.

“She was just always on the bit too much,” he said.

When Morse suggested to Bahde that they take the blinkers off for the GIII Fantasy on April 1, the Omaha, Neb. resident resisted an experiment in a $600,000 stake.

“I was a little reluctant, quite honestly,” Bahde said. “He said that we've got one last breeze before the Fantasy, let's take those blinkers off for the breeze and see what happens. We did and [jockey Rafael] Bejarano was over the moon. He said, 'What a change. What a change. This horse was far more relaxed and finished so strong.' It was decided right then and there that the blinkers were coming off. She's run, just terrific every race since the blinkers came off.”

“She wants to get into the bit, but she's learned to rate and wait for the signal to go and then she's just full of run. It was a great move by Randy. And I know it's made a big difference.”

Although Wet Paint prevailed in the Fantasy, beating Taxed by 2 1/2 lengths, Morse said that the equipment change has helped transform the filly into a more balanced athlete.

“She's a different horse than she was at Oaklawn, I can tell you that,” he said. “She's, bigger, stronger. She's just mature. She seems like she knows her job now, a lot more so than she did back then.”

Trainer Kenny McPeek took Defining Purpose back to Kentucky where she won Keeneland's GI Ashland by a half-length. She was a well-beaten seventh in the GI Kentucky Oaks on May 5. Wet Paint went straight to the Kentucky Oaks, where she was fourth as the favorite. Taxed tied in points with champion Wonder Wheel for the final berth in the Oaks field, but lost the tie-breaker on earnings and landed on the Oaks also-eligible list. Unlike the Derby, the field stayed intact and she did not draw in.

Two weeks later at Pimlico, Taxed turned in a textbook performance to win the GII Black-Eyed Susan by 3 3/4 lengths over Hoosier Philly. Morse said it was the best race of her career.

After considering the GI Coaching Club American Oaks on July 22 at Saratoga, Morse and Bahde settled on the GIII Indiana Oaks on July 8 at Indiana Grand–an easy ship from Churchill Downs–for Taxed's first start of the summer. She drew the rail in the field of seven and at the end of a frustrating trip under Bejarano was second to Defining Purpose by 1 1/4 lengths.

“She didn't break good and she got boxed in behind horses with a slow pace,” Morse said. “I'm not saying she would have won, but I think if he if he could have got her out it would have been a lot closer race. Put it that way. If you watch the replay, he was trying to get outside. He couldn't even do that. He was just struck.”

By the time Taxed as able to make her run, Defining Purpose and Brian Hernandez Jr. had a safe advantage.

The Black-Eyed Susan at 1 1/8 miles was the longest race of Taxed's career and Morse figures the extra furlong on Saturday is within her range.

“I don't think it'll be a problem. You never know till they do it,” he said. “That's the way she's been training. Her works, she just gallops out strong. She'll never seem to get tired.”

Bejarano will be aboard for the Alabama. Taxed shipped from Kentucky to Saratoga Sunday night.

Bahde has been involved in racing for better than 20 years and he graduated from Nebraska bullrings to major U.S. tracks with Morse handling his stock. The Black-Eyed Susan was his first graded stakes victory. The Alabama will be his first start in a Grade I race anywhere.

Ten years ago, Bahde's Kid Sidney (Lemon Drop Kid) was third in each of his three starts at Saratoga. In recent years, Bahde has sold his beer distribution business and spends his free time managing a small racing stable and some breeding stock. Taxed is taking him back to Saratoga for one of the Spa's marquee events late on a Saturday afternoon in August.

“These are very exciting times,” he said. “You never expect to have a horse this talented, that just seems to be getting better.

“You can't even dream of this when you race sort of in my world, which isn't high-level racing. I don't spend a lot of money at auctions for horses. I try to do it on a budget and to be able to land with a horse like Taxed is really a dream come true.”

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The Godolphin homebred posted her second work since her Oaks victory, covering five furlongs in 1:02.24 over the Oklahoma dirt training track in company with recent allowance winner and GSP Slip Mahoney.

“1:02 and a super good work,” said Cox. “She's been very steady and very good up here in the mornings. I like the way she came out of it and she's set up to go the mile and a quarter.”

Cox also sent out Godolphin's Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) for a sharp five-furlong move in :59.22 over the Oklahoma track Saturday, her penultimate work before the GI Ballerina H. Aug. 26.

“Awesome work. It was very quick and good, not just quick,” said Cox. “A good gallop out as well, so she's set up for the Ballerina.”

Matareya was last seen finishing third in the June 24

GIII Chicago S. at Ellis behind Steve Asmussen trainee Society (Gun Runner), who also worked five-eighths in 1:00 flat Sunday over the Oklahoma main track.

Victorious in last season's GI Acorn S., Matareya took the GI Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs two starts back.

On Sunday, Miacomet Farm's Heavenly Sunday (Candy Ride) breezed over the Oklahoma training turf in preparation for Saturday's GII Lake Placid S. She was last see finishing second in the July 1 Tepin S. at Ellis.

“She's doing great. It was an awesome breeze, and all of her works here over the turf have been great,” said Cox. “I love her gallop outs and the way she's acting. I'm super pleased with her and hopefully, we get a good setup.”

Cox indicated a decision has not been made as to where Juddmonte's Set Piece would return following a win in Saturday's GI Arlington Million at Colonial Downs.

“I'll talk it over with Prince Khalid and his family and make a decision,” said Cox.

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“She's a super consistent filly who always comes running,” said trainer Brad Cox, who won the 2018 renewal of the Oaks with subsequent champion Monomoy Girl. “Her run in the [Kentucky] Oaks was good and her last race at Ellis was probably better than it looked on paper running against a huge bias with no pace. I'm glad she stepped up and finally got that Grade I–that was big for her.”

GSW Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) stumbled dramatically leaving the innermost stall, spotting the field several lengths while 14-1 chance She's Lookin Lucky (Lookin At Lucky) and Sacred Wish (Not This Time) enjoyed cleaner starts and proceeded directly to the head of affairs. In the meantime, Wet Paint was unhurried in last, about four lengths off of She's Lookin Lucky, who registered a comfortable opening quarter in :24.67 as Sacred Wish and the awkward starting Southlawn pursued in second and third, respectively. Still content to linger out back through an equally modest half in :48.81, Wet Paint launched her bid heading to the quarter pole as Sacred Wish forged to the front and appeared to be en route to victory. Wet Paint, however, had other ideas. Fanned out several paths wide straightening for home, the 7-5 second choice slowly reeled in game leader in the final jumps and nailed her rival by a neck at the wire. Favored Gambling Girl was a long way back in third, finishing ahead of She's Lookin Lucky and Southlawn.

“She closes into soft paces like she did today, she closes into a fast pace,” said Cox. “This is her thing in regards to just kind of flopping out of the gate and finding her way and finishing up. I told Flavien [Prat] today, 'Just ride her like a turf horse.' He knows what to do and you don't have to tell him anything. That's really what it comes down to–just let her break and kind of find her way around there, and when she starts picking up, just keep her out of trouble.”

Added Prat, “Turning for home I thought I was going to win, at the eighth pole I was questioning it, and then she finally found another gear to get by that filly. We went slow and we really picked it up and the filly of George Weaver's kept on going, but she was able to get the win.”

Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) was scratched the morning of the race after sustaining a minor foot issue, via a Tweet posted by trainer Tom Amoss Saturday morning.

“Hoosier Philly was not herself this morning with a minor foot issue. Out of an abundance of caution, agreement with the state vets, & doing the right thing by her, she will be withdrawn from the CCAO. We look forward to getting back to the track in the future.”

On the board in two of three starts last season, Wet Paint kicked off the season with a win in Oaklawn's Martha Washington S. before adding wins in a sloppy renewal of the GIII Honeybee S. and GIII Fantasy S. ahead of her Classic bid.

Cox said Wet Paint will likely target the 10-furlong GI Alabama S. Aug. 19 at the Spa.

“That's the logical spot moving forward,” Cox said. “We'll talk it over with the Godolphin team, but I think a mile and a quarter is definitely something she's going to be able to handle based off her running style and showing today that she likes Saratoga.”

Pedigree Notes:
Wet Paint is one of 21 graded winners and 45 black-type winners for Claiborne's Blame, who also has six winners at the highest level. Three of those six Grade I winners are out of Mr. Prospector-line broodmare sires, making them inbred to that prolific Claiborne stalwart. Wet Paint herself is 4×4 to Mr. Prospector and her damsire, Darley's late Street Cry (Ire), is responsible for 140 stakes winners out of his daughters. The CCA Oaks winner is Blame's second Grade I winner at the Spa following Marley's Freedom, who won the 2018 Ballerina S.

A second-generation Godolphin homebred after Darley acquired the family from Stonerside, Wet Paint has a yearling half-sister by Medaglia d'Oro. Dam Sky Painter, who hails from the same family as 2020 GII Del Mar Derby winner Pixelate (City Zip) and whose third dam is four-time GISW Nastique (Naskra), most recently produced a filly by Not This Time Apr. 26.

Saturday, Saratoga
COACHING CLUB AMERICAN OAKS-GI, $485,000, Saratoga,
7-22, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:50.68, ft.
1–WET PAINT, 121, f, 3, by Blame
                1st Dam: Sky Painter (GSP, $169,755), by Street Cry (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Skylighter, by Sky Mesa
                3rd Dam: Painted Lady, by Broad Brush
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-2-0, $1,057,175. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sacred Wish, 121, f, 3, by Not This Time– Indian Wish, by Indian Charlie. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $70,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $50,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher T. Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola; B-John Penn (KY); T-George Weaver. $100,000.
3–Gambling Girl, 121, f, 3, by Dialed In–Tulipmania, by Empire Maker. ($200,000 Ylg '21 SARAUG). O-Repole Stable; B-Gallagher's Stud (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $60,000.
Margins: NK, 8HF, HF. Odds: 1.45, 10.80, 1.20.
Also Ran: She's Lookin Lucky, Southlawn. Scratched: Hoosier Philly.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

What a run from WET PAINT (Blame), who absolutely shines in the GI CCA Oaks at Saratoga, earning her first career Grade I victory! pic.twitter.com/YoHXZfLKuk

— TDN (@theTDN) July 22, 2023

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Amoss said, “Hoosier Philly was not herself this morning with a minor foot issue. Out of an abundance of caution, agreement with the state vets, & doing the right thing by her, she will be withdrawn from the CCAO. We look forward to getting back to the track in the future.”

The CCA Oaks field now has five 3-year-old fillies remaining with Brad Cox's Wet Paint (Blame) serving as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

Hoosier Philly was not herself this morning with a minor foot issue. Out of an abundance of caution, agreement with the state vets, & doing the right thing by her, she will be withdrawn from the CCAO. We look forward to getting back to the track in the future. @stable_gold

— Tom Amoss Racing (@TomAmossRacing) July 22, 2023

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The Godolphin homebred is currently on a six-race winning streak topped by a powerful 3 1/4-length score last out in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. June 10 at Belmont Park.

“He was very good. He went five eighths and went well and appeared to be well within himself,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “We're uncertain about the nine furlongs (in the Whitney), but we're going to remain optimistic. Until they do it, you never know. Maybe now that he's more mature than he was early on, maybe he'll do it. He's more seasoned.”

His stablemate and last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power (Curlin) worked a bullet five eighths in :59.60 (1/13) Friday over the Oklahoma training track and could make two starts at the Spa for Mott this summer in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. July 29 and the GI Forego S. Aug. 26.

“His work was very good,” Mott said. “He'll go to the Vanderbilt and then possibly the Forego.”

Cox Barn Loaded for the Spa…

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast) worked a half-mile in :48.88 (6/20) Saturday over the Oklahoma training turf as she prepares to take on the boys in the GIII Troy S., a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older horses Aug. 5.

“Really good. She's an outstanding workhorse,” trainer Brad Cox said of the last out GI Jaipur S. winner. “It's her first move up here on the turf. She breezed last weekend at Churchill. It's just a maintenance move and she's doing great. She's pointing to the Troy right now.”

He continued, “Physically, she looks amazing. She's happy. I don't know if we need her to get any better, she just has to continue to be as good as she's been the first half of the year. If we can duplicate that in the second half, we'll be in great shape.”

The stretch-running Wet Paint (Blame), fourth as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Oaks and second in the Monomoy Girl S. June 17, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 (6/15) Saturday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for next Saturday's GI Coaching Club American Oaks.

“Really good move this morning. She went five-eighths from the half in 1:00.60 and out in 1:13.60,” Cox said. “She's not the flashiest workhorse, but this morning she was on it and she was wanting to do it. I loved what I saw from her. She's set up for a big run next week.”

West Will Power (Bernardini), winner of the GI Stephen Foster S. July 1, worked a half mile in :51.40 (88/95) at Churchill Downs Saturday in preparation for a possible start in the GI Whitney Aug. 5.

“It was just a really easy half mile and if all is well he make the trip up this week,” Cox said.

Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) and Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg), who dead-heated for fourth last out in the GI Belmont S., worked five eighths in company in 1:00.90 (5/13) Friday over the Oklahoma training track.

“Very good move. I'm very happy with them,” Cox said.

Both horses will point to the nine-furlong GII Jim Dandy S. July 29 with an eye towards the 10-furlong GI Travers S. Aug. 26.

“I don't know if any of these horses want to run a mile and a half, but they ran big races in the Belmont and got really good figures,” Cox said. “They've had time to recover and had some really good moves down at Churchill.”

Tapit Trice Haskell Bound… 

'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), a close third in the GI Belmont S., breezed a half mile in :49.15 (27/84) over the Belmont Park main track on Saturday in preparation for the GI Haskell Invitational on July 22 at Monmouth Park.

“He just did what he normally does which is work well and gallop out strongly,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He was moving great. It was everything we wanted to see.”

Luis Saez will ride Tapit Trice in the Haskell.

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A perfect three-for-three to start her juvenile career, the Tom Amoss trainee went into the break over the winter as one of the leading candidates to win the GI Kentucky Oaks. Finishing third in New Orleans in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. and a well-beaten fourth in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks in the spring, Hoosier Filly skipped the signature 3-year-old filly race and took a month and a half off following throat surgery before running second in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. May 19 at Pimlico.

Breaking alertly here, the gray filly shot to the lead, controlled the more-than-honest fractions of :25.23 for the first quarter-mile and :48.86 for the first half-mile, and rounding the far turn, began to extend her margin. Despite a late challenge from favorite Wet Paint (Blame), Hoosier Filly cruised to a 3-length victory.

“She got away with a very easy opening quarter-mile but quickened up well in the lane when Edgar asked her,” said trainer Tom Amoss. “I'm so thrilled for the owners. Bill and Mary Stone are from across the river in Evansville, Indiana and Rod Ratcliff held a big role at several racetracks in Indiana. It was great to see her return to the winner's circle and thrilled everyone could be here celebrating with us today.”

The winner's dam is out of SW Princess Arabella (Any Given Saturday), who is also responsible for MGSP Ulele (Candy Ride {Arg}). Hoosier Philly is her dam's first offspring, but she has an unraced 2-year-old half-sister named Ava's Look (Mastery) and a yearling half-brother by Justify. Dam Tapella dropped a filly by Munnings May 21.

MONOMOY GIRL OVERNIGHT S., $172,400, Ellis, 6-17,
3yo, f, 1m, 1:36.39, ft.
1–HOOSIER PHILLY, 122, f, 3, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Tapella, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Princess Arabella, by Any Given Saturday
                3rd Dam: Tortuga Lady, by Thunder Gulch
($510,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Gold Standard Racing Stable, LLC; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss; J-Edgar Morales. $105,900. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-4-1-1, $644,510.
2–Wet Paint, 122, f, 3, Blame–Sky Painter, by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $36,300.
3–Flamand, 118, f, 3, Creative Cause–Covey Trace, by Stevie Wonderboy. ($15,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Dean Caras; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Elias Lopez. $17,500.
Margins: 3HF, 5 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.25, 0.65, 28.22.
Also Ran: Champagne Calling, Sabra Tuff. Scratched: Never Tell Patti.
Click for the Equibase.com chart.

#4 Hoosier Philly returns to the winner's circle after taking the field gate-to-wire in the Monomoy Girl S. at Ellis Park under @EMoralesRacing for trainer @TomAmossRacing!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/bkCH5tcAzD

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 17, 2023

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Peter Brant's Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) makes her first appearance since taking out the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last fall. The $1.025-million KEESEP yearling flashed ample ability on dirt, winning twice from four starts, but was reinvented as a grass filly in the second half of 2022. Upset winner of the Riskaverse S. at Saratoga when making her turf debut last August, she was a pace-compromised second in the GIII Pebbles S. before accounting for stablemate McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the QE II. Florent Geroux replaces fellow Frenchman Flavien Prat in the boot.

Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) returns to the site of his victory in the 2021 GI United Nations S. and can give Brown a remarkable seventh consecutive victory in the GIII Monmouth S. The all-the-way winner of last year's GI Manhattan S. was a pacesetting fourth behind stable companion Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger} in defense of his United Nations title and makes his first trip to the races since a weakening sixth in the GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga last August. Among the competition is Never Explain (Street Sense), who annexed the GIII Dinner Party S. at Old Hilltop May 18.

Sandwiched between those races is the GIII Salvator Mile S. Artorius (Arrogate), who carries the famed Juddmonte silks, progressed rapidly at three, winning his maiden and 'Rising Star' honors at second asking before streaking away to win the restricted Curlin S. at Saratoga last July. Allowed to take his chance in the GI Runhappy Travers S., he was a not-quite-ready-for-prime-time sixth to Epicenter (Not This Time) and was a latest fourth in the seven-furlong Perryville S. at Keeneland last fall.

Quality Over Quantity in Bed o' Roses

It would be easy to say the connections of the four others entered for Saturday's GII Bed O'Roses S. at Belmont Park were dismayed when champion Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) was entered Wednesday, but given the strength of the competition, the reverse might also be true.

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint heroine was the victim of some race riding and was forced to settle for third in the GI Derby City Distaff S. at Churchill Downs May 6, so revenge will be on their mind, but it may not be straight-forward. Derby City runner-up Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) lines up a few doors down, while the in-form Beguine (Gun Runner) and GII Vagrancy S. victress Caramel Swirl (Union Rags) add to the intrigue.

Pegasus, Monomoy Girl Lure Big Names

The Pegasus has attracted a field of eight mostly exposed 3-year-olds, topped by a pair of shippers from the barn of Todd Pletcher. Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) looks a standout and is unlikely to jump at anything close to his 8-5 morning line, having wired the field in the GII Louisiana Derby before wilting to 14th after attending the sizzling pace in the GI Kentucky Derby six weeks ago. Classic Catch (Classic Empire) was a wide-trip and creditable fifth in the GII Wood Memorial S. two back, and his fourth in the GIII Peter Pan S. looks considerably better given what Arcangelo (Arrogate) did around Big Sandy last weekend.

Saturday's relocated Monomoy Girl S. also looks a two-horse affair on paper. Wet Paint (Blame), who made a belated run to be fourth behind the commonly owned 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) when favored in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 5, squares off against Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief), who failed to make the Oaks cut but hinted at a return to form with a runner-up effort in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico May 19.

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