Kentucky Oaks 2023: Defining Purpose wins Ashland Stakes at Keeneland
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Trainer Kenny McPeek joked he’s the Ricky Bobby of the Kentucky Oaks — “If you’re not first, you’re last” — but he’ll get another chance to shed the label in four weeks thanks to a “rags-to-riches” filly valued at $14,000 two years ago.
Defining Purpose boosted her value in a big way Friday, stalking the early pace and then taking over down the stretch for a half-length victory in the $600,000, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on opening day of the Spring Meet at Keeneland.
McPeek has finished second three times in the Kentucky Oaks — Take Charge Lady (2002), Daddys Lil Darling (2017) and Swiss Skydiver (2020) — and admitted it’s “a little frustrating.”
If all goes well the next month, Defining Purpose will give McPeek another chance in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
“You can’t hit anything if you’re not in it,” McPeek said. “We have a real chance. I think she’s going to come into it just right. Fingers crossed.”
A daughter of Cross Traffic, Defining Purpose and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.31. The 20-1 long shot paid $42.68 to win on a $2 wager.
Punchbowl, the 6-5 favorite, finished second after entering with a 2-for-2 record for Louisville trainer Brad Cox. He said after the race Punchbowl likely would relish the longer 1 1/8-mile distance of the Kentucky Oaks but wouldn’t commit to entering her.
“We’ve done a lot with her in a short period of time,” Cox said. “First and foremost, how she comes out of the race determines whether we go forward to the Kentucky Oaks. … She’s still figuring things out.”
Wonder Wheel, the 2-year-old champion filly after winning November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland, finished sixth in the seven-horse field.
“She broke well and put herself in a good spot,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. “It just wasn’t her day.”
Indeed, the day belonged to Defining Purpose.
The highest bid for her at the January 2021 Keeneland Horses of All Ages Sale was $14,000, which didn’t meet the reserve price set by breeder/co-owner Colette Marie Vanmatre.
So she sent the horse to McPeek, who liked what he saw.
“I valued her at a pretty good number,” he said. “I thought she was a really nice filly. I thought I valued her high. Now I know I valued her low.”
Defining Purpose broke her maiden in her second start in November at Churchill Downs and also won the Year’s End Stakes on Dec. 31 at Oaklawn Park.
Both of her starts this year were on wet tracks at Oaklawn, and she finished third and sixth.
“She hates an off track,” McPeek said. “We were praying it would be clear this weekend and got lucky that it was.”
On Friday, Defining Purpose stalked the early pace set by Effortlesslyelgant — 23.62 seconds for a quarter-mile, 47.25 seconds for the half-mile and 1:11.64 for three-quarters.
Defining Purpose surged to the front at the top of the stretch and held off bids by Punchbowl and third-place Julia Shining.
“Going down the backside I was just thinking to myself, ‘Be patient, just wait and wait and let her travel well,’” Hernandez said. “And that’s what she did. When she turned for home, she kicked on. … I was pretty confident in her.”
Defining Purpose improved to 3-0-1 in seven career starts and boosted her career bankroll to $543,688. Not bad for a filly who was valued at $14,000 as a yearling.
“This is another one of those examples where you just never know where a good horse comes from,” McPeek said. “Today she ran a banger.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; [email protected]; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
