Ky. Oaks: Defining Purpose will ship to Churchill Downs this week

Defining Purpose, winner of Friday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Ashland at Keeneland, is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday or Tuesday to prepare for her next start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 5.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Defining Purpose will have her next timed workout there in a “couple of weeks.”

The daughter of Cross Traffic, owned by Magdalena Racing, Colette Marie Vanmatre and James Ball, was bred by Vanmatre and offered as a newly-turned yearling at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. When she did not bring Vanmatre’s minimum appraisal, the breeder opted to keep the filly to race.

“Defining Purpose came to us in late spring last year,” McPeek said. “She is the first horse I have received from Collete Vanmatre. She told me to see what I thought of her and we put her in our program. From the beginning, she was always very forward. Very enthusiastic and liked her job. She did everything we ever asked.”

McPeek, who won the Ashland in 2002 with Take Charge Lady and 2014 with Rosalind, was quick to thank his team.

“I am like an orchestra conductor, and they play the music,” he said.

McPeek gave a special shoutout to assistant Kevin Glodowski, who has overseen Defining Purpose at Keeneland the past six weeks; Ray Bryner, who heads the crew at Oaklawn Park, where Defining Purpose wintered; and Alan Shell at McPeek’s Magdalena Farm in Lexington. At Churchill, the filly will be under the care of key assistant Greg Geier.

The victory in the Ashland, the year’s first Grade 1 race for sophomore fillies, is worth 100 points toward the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) to be run May 5 at Churchill Downs. Defining Purpose has 107 points and is third on the Oaks leaderboard with one points race remaining until the Run for the Lilies. The Oaks is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box.