Since breaking her maiden two starts back over a sloppy track at Horseshoe Indy last fall and parlaying that into a win last time out in the Martha Washington S. over a wet-fast track at Oaklawn, Wet Paint (Blame) proved that her fondness for the off going was no fluke Saturday with a rousing win in the GIII Honeybee S.
The new leader on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with the 50 points earned Saturday giving her a total of 70 points, the Godolphin homebred broke a beat slow from the middle of the gate and trailed the field as they passed by the wire for the first time. Paced up front by 21-1 shot Condensation (Frosted), Wet Paint stayed relaxed under an expert ride by Flavien Prat and stayed glued to the rail for the backstretch run as the opening quarter went in :23.54. Despite making up some ground past the half-mile pole, Wet Paint still found herself with only a pair of horses behind her as dueling longshots Condensation and Taxed (Collected) continued their slugfest.
Still stuck along the inside as the field swung around the far turn, the bay needed racing room and got it, tipping outside a tiring rival before ducking between horses with a sixteenth to run to finally find clear sailing. With plenty left from there, Wet Paint cruised the final yards to pick up the dominant win.
“Going into the first turn, I was little concerned. She was pretty far back and taking a lot of dirt,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “She showed a lot of heart to be able to handle these conditions today. She showed she liked the wet track and I think as the distances get longer, she'll keep improving. The Kentucky Oaks is our goal and I think timing wise the Fantasy or the Ashland is the next logical goal.”
Pedigree Note:
Her dam's first winner, Wet Paint is from the same family as MGSW Piexlate (City Zip). She is the 21st graded-stakes winner for Claiborne Farm's Blame.
Saturday, Oaklawn Park
HONEYBEE S.-GIII, $300,000, Oaklawn, 2-25, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.35, sy.
1–WET PAINT, 122, 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 GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox;
J-Flavien Prat. $171,600. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $334,100.
Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross
pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Condensation, 122, f, 3, Frosted–Tiz Briska, by Tiznow.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT).
O-Pravin A. Patel; B-William Humphries & Altair Farms LLC
(KY); T-Chris A. Hartman. $52,800.
3–Grand Love, 117, f, 3, Gun Runner–Grand Prayer, by Grand
Slam. O/B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen. $26,400.
Margins: 3, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.70, 21.70, 5.70.
Also Ran: Gambling Girl, Towhead, Defining Purpose,
Take Charge Briana, Olivia Twist, Taxed, Effortlesslyelgant,
Boss Lady Bailey, Doudoudouwanadance.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO,
sponsored by TVG.
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