Kentucky Oaks 2023: Defining Purpose works Saturday bullet

Two fillies put in their final works Saturday at Churchill Downs for the 149th running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Defining Purpose, trained by Kenny McPeek, worked a half mile in 47.0 seconds. She worked the fastest of 149 at the distance. It was her second drill since her upset victory in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland on April 7.

Mimi Kakushi worked a half-mile in 50.4 seconds for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. She rides a three-win streak into the Kentucky Oaks, her first race away from Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. In her most recent start on Feb. 17, she won the UAE Oaks (G3).

This is how the contenders in the Kentucky Oaks stand as of Saturday morning.

Affirmative Lady – AMO Racing USA’s Affirmative Lady returned to the track at Keeneland and jogged under Kevin Lundie for trainer Graham Motion.

Affirmative Lady worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 on Thursday. She is scheduled to van to Churchill Downs Monday morning after training at Keeneland.

And Tell Me Nolies – Peter Redekop’s And Tell Me Nolies was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon from her Southern California base.

Trained by Peter Miller, And Tell Me Nolies worked five furlongs at San Luis Rey Training Center in 1:01.8 on Friday.

Runner-up in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in her most recent start, And Tell Me Nolies will be ridden in the Kentucky Oaks by Ramon Vazquez.

Botanical, The Alys Look, Wet Paint – Trainer Brad Cox’s trio of Kentucky Oaks runners all had easy training sessions late Saturday morning.

They are all expected to gallop at 7:30 a.m. EDT Sunday.

Defining Purpose – While most of the Oaks fillies had their final workouts on Thursday, trainer Kenny McPeek waited until Saturday to send out the surprise Ashland winner.

“She went an easy, happy half,” said jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., who was aboard her for the workout, and will ride her in the Oaks. “She was doing it easy. She was flipping her ears back and forth, kind of just enjoying herself.”

Defining Purpose, owned by Magdalena Racing, Collette Marie Vanmatre and James Ball, was clocked in 11.6, 23.4, 34.8 and 47.0 seconds for the half-mile, then ridden out in 59.8 seconds.

“We like to let them just work what we call a happy half,” McPeek said. “She didn’t need company, she’s fit, and he (Hernandez) said she felt great. She looked great. We’re fairly confident in her. I think we’ve got a big chance. I’ve been second three times in the Oaks, and winning that is one that I’d like to check the box to.”

Dorth Vader – Trainer Michael Yates was on the scene Saturday morning for the first time at Churchill Downs where he watched John Ropes’ Dorth Vader gallop about 1 3/8 miles.

The 46-1 winner of the Davona Dale (G2) is scheduled to gallop Sunday and possibly school in the paddock following training.

Flying Connection – Brad King, Randy Andrews, G. Chris Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby and Lee Lewis’ Flying Connection, who had a walk day Friday following a five-furlong work in 1:00.6 on Thursday, returned to the track to gallop 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Oscar Rojero.

“We waited until all the Derby workers were done and then went out,” trainer Todd Fincher said of Flying Connection, who galloped at the end of the 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners.

Gambling Girl – Repole Stable’s Gambling Girl galloped about 1 3/8 miles around 6:30 a.m. EDT with exercise rider Carlos Quevedo in the irons.

Mimi Kakushi –. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Mimi Kakushi worked a half-mile in 50.4 seconds under stable rider Xavier Ziani.

Mimi Kakushi jogged a mile with the pony before going into her work that produced fractions of 13.6, 26.2, 50.4 and out five furlongs in 1:05.2.

“I thought she worked well,” said trainer Salem bin Ghadayer, who went to the grandstand for the work. “The track is a little deeper (than in Dubai) but not that deep. It is not an issue.”

Sunday’s activity for the UAE Oaks winner calls for being hand-walked in the quarantine barn with a return to the track scheduled for Monday.

Mimi Kakushi arrived here April 22 and made her first appearance on track April 24.

“She has settled in very well,” bin Ghadayer said of Mimi Kakushi, who will represent his first starter in the United States.

Mickael Barzalona, who has the Oaks riding assignment, is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Thursday.

Pretty Mischievous – Godolphin’s homebred Pretty Mischievous kept to her routine as scheduled on Friday, heading out to the track at 7:30 a.m. EDT to gallop her usual one mile and a half under exercise rider Albino Martinez.

Trainer Brendan Walsh then instructed her to school in the paddock at 10:15 a.m. EDT. The Rachel Alexandra (G2) victress will be ridden in the Oaks by Tyler Gaffalione, who on Friday at Keeneland won three races, securing the jockey title.

Promiseher America – Returning to the track a day after her 49.77-second half-mile work, Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom McCrocklin’s Promiseher America galloped one mile across a sloppy track at Belmont Park.

“She had a nice light gallop this morning and looked awesome,” trainer Ray Handal said. “The track is sloppy and sealed up here so I just did a short mile gallop and let her hack around there. She really bounced out of it well with a lot of good energy.”

Handal reports that the daughter of American Pharoah by the Unbridled’s Song mare Promisedyouheaven will retain the services of Jorge Vargas Jr. Who piloted her to victory in the Gazelle Stakes (G3).

Scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Promiseher America will make her debut appearance on Monday during the Derby and Oaks exclusive work time at 7:30 a.m. EDT.

Southlawn – Robert Masterson’s Southlawn had another routine 1 1/2-mile gallop for trainer Norm Casse Saturday morning.

Wonder Wheel – Stringing together her second easy day after breezing on Thursday, D.J. Stable’s Wonder Wheel went to the track at 6 a.m. EDT under assistant trainer David Carroll.

“Today was an easy day. She walked and galloped a short distance then had a nice long walk home,” Kim Carroll, assistant trainer for Mark Casse, said. “The biggest thing we try to do with her is give her a lot of time out on the track to just relax.”

On Sunday Wonder Wheel will go out in the Casse barn’s second set around 5:45 a.m. EDT and gallop one mile and a half.

Also-eligible – Richard Bahde’s Taxed (No. 15 on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard) galloped 1 1/2 miles at 6:30 a.m. EDT with Saturino Vergara aboard for trainer Randy Morse.