Kentucky Oaks trail: Botanical wins Bourbonette for Cox

Botanical kept her undefeated streak at Turfway Park in tact with a 2 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks.

Botanical’s victory in the Bourbonette Oaks also gave her rider Chris Landeros his third stakes victory on the Jeff Ruby Steaks program. Landeros previously won the $250,000 Rushaway Stakes and $250,000 Latonia Stakes.

Trained by Brad Cox, Botanical completed the 1 1/16-mile Bourbonette Oaks in 1:44.47.

Botanical earned 50 points for her victory in the Bourbonette Oaks, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks points qualifier. Her stablemate Flashy Gem earned 20 points, and non-Kentucky Oaks nominees Thirty Thou Kelvin received 15 points and Miss New York tabbed 10 points. Fifth-place finisher Ag Bullet added five points.

Botanical broke well at the start of the Bourbonette Oaks and was immediately taken to the lead under Landeros. Botanical easily completed a quarter-mile in 24.58 seconds, and Landeros kept Botanical well-rated up the backside through a half-mile of 48.51 seconds. At the three-sixteenths pole, Botanical was joined briefly to her outside by her stablemate Flashy Gem but easily kicked clear in deep stretch.

“I can’t really tell you exactly what made her who she is today but she seems to be getting better with every race,” assistant trainer Tessa Walden said. “I think anytime you get in a race like the Kentucky Oaks, you will go there. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Thirty Thou Kelvin completed the trifecta followed by Miss New York, Ag Bullet, Always At Ease, Shewillghostu, Renegade Rebel, Bolivie and Medaglia Forever.

Botanical was the even-money post-time favorite and paid $4.06, $2.62 and $2.38. Flashy Gem, under John Velazquez, returned $3.62 and $3.12. Thirty Thou Kelvin, ridden by Gerardo Corrales, paid $8.44.

Botanical is a 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Blame mare Daisy. She is owned by LNJ Foxwood and Clearsky Farms and was bred in the Bluegrass State by Clearsky and Godolphin.