The Kentucky Oaks of 2023

 The Kentucky Oaks, the female version of the Kentucky Derby, has been run the day before the Derby for the last 149 years.  The "Run for the Lilies" is made by 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs this Friday, May 5th, with a post time of 5:51 p.m. EDT (or 3:51 MDT).  The race has a purse of $1,250,000 this year.  A full field of 14 fillies will race 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the main dirt track, each carrying 121 pounds.  
   The ladies had to earn points, just like guys, to be eligible to run in the Kentucky Oaks.  Here are their names, with their point earnings, from highest to lowest:  Wet Paint  170;  Affirmative Lady  110;  Defining Purpose  107;  Pretty Mischievous  103;  Southlawn  100; Promiseher America  100;  And Tell Me Nolies  70;  Botanical  70;  Dorth Vader  70;  Gambling Girl  61;  The Alys Look  54;  Flying Connection  50;  Mimi Kakushi  50;  Wonder Wheel  48;  Taxed  48;  Julia Shining  46;  Hoosier Philly  45.  The top 14 points earners are entered and have drawn post positions; the last three on the above list  are ready to fill any place in case of illness or injury.  
Wet Paint, on the left, winning the Fantasy Stakes.  She has earned the
highest number of qualifying points, and is the betting favorite.

  Here are my usual idiosyncratic  observations regarding the field...  All but 2 of the fillies were bred in Kentucky; Dorth Vader was bred in Florida and Gambling Girl in New York.  Of the field of 14, Promiseher America is the only chestnut filly; 2 are gray/roan (Affirmative Lady and Defining Purpose); and the other 11 fillies are bay.  Twelve stallions are represented, and 2 have 2 daughters each in the field - Arrogate is the sire of Affirmative Lady and And Tell Me Nolies; while Into Mischief has Pretty Mischievous and Wonder Wheel.  Hoosier Philly, the third "on call" filly is also by Into Mischief.  Trainer Brad Cox has 3 fillies in the race - Wet Paint, Botanical, and The Alys Look.  -  And Pretty Mischievous will be racing with blinkers for the first time in this race.
  The following will list post position, name of the filly, morning line betting odds, sire, and dam:
1.    Mimi Kakushi    20 to 1    City of Light    Rite Moment
2.    The Alys Look    15 to 1    Connect    Foul Play
3.    Gambling Girl    15 to 1    Dialed In    Tulipmania
4.    Southlawn     8 to 1    Pioneerof the Nile    Mo d'Amour
5.    Wonder Wheel    12 to 1    Into Mischief    Wonder Gal
6.    Botanical     4 to 1     Medaglia d'Oro    Daisy
7.    Wet Paint     5 to 2     Blame     Sky Painter
8.    Promiseher America    30 to 1    American Pharoah    Promised You Heaven
9.    And Tell Me Nolies    15 to 1    Arrogate     Be Fair
10.  Flying Connection     15 to 1    Nyquist     Free Flying Soul
11.  Defining Purpose     12 to 1     Cross Traffic    Defining Hope
12.  Dorth Vader     20 to 1     Girvin     Hardcore Candy
13.  Affirmative Lady    10 to 1    Arrogate    Stiffed
14.  Pretty Mischievous    10 to 1    Into Mischief    Pretty City Dancer
And the "stand by" entries, incase of illness or injury scratches:
15.  Taxed     15 to 1     Collected    Yankee Union
16.  Julia Shining    15 to 1    Curlin    Dreaming of Julia
17.  Hoosier Philly    30 to 1    Into Mischief    Tapella

Good luck, if you're betting!!!  (And - Please do not bet more than you can afford to lose.)

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