Freshened Defining Purpose struts her stuff in Indiana Oaks

Shelbyville, Ind.

Ken McPeek noticed that Defining Purpose had run her best races with some time off, so the trainer was in no hurry to bring his Grade 1-winning filly back off a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Nine weeks and a day later, Defining Purpose showed up in the Grade 3, $200,000 Indiana Oaks at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday and fired fresh, getting a great rail ride behind the pacesetters from jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. to get the jump on favored Taxed up the rail and win the 1 1/16-mile race.

"Kudos to Kenny and the team, they had her well prepared," Hernandez said. "She's a bigger, stronger filly than she was in the Oaks, and now she's backed up that Grade 1 form. It's a real testament to the team to have her ready like this."

"Spacing is a big deal for her," McPeek said. We had waited for the Ashland after the Honeybee at Oaklawn, and she rewarded us in the Ashland, and the Oaks was probably too quick for her."

McPeek said that the Cotillion in September at Parx Racing would be the next target with the Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Santa Anita the season-end goal with a 3-year-old filly championship in mind.

"I think she's shown she fits," McPeek said. "She's a Grade 1 winner and showed her class here. Admittedly, I like to run them, but that's not her game, so we'll give her some time and look at the Cotillion."

Taxed raced in the back of the pack early and commenced her rally wide under Rafael Bejarano. She was clearly second best but never looked a threat to run down the winner.