2023 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes Replay | Botanical Blossoming Into Kentucky Oaks Contender For Cox

Botanical won the 2023 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park, a prep race for the 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1) worth 20 points to the winner. Now 3 for 3 over the local course, is the Brad Cox-trained Medaglia d’Oro filly blossoming into a top 5 Kentucky Oaks contender? Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The track press release:

LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farms’ Botanical made a bold move at the head of the lane to easily defeat her six rivals by 6 ½ lengths in Saturday’s $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park.

          Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Chris Landeros, Botanical completed a one-mile time of 1:36.51

          It was an eventful beginning to the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes as jockey David Haldar’s saddle slipped on the speedy B G Warrior causing her to skitter to an early 4 ½-length lead. While B G Warrior completed a swift opening quarter-mile of :22.95 and half-mile of :45.65, Botanical and Landeros saved ground at the rail and bided their time in third. Around the far turn, Botanical was angled wide and easily took command of the race.

          “She’s a very talented filly,” Landeros said. “When I saw B G Warrior go out to the lead like that, I just let (Botanical) settle. I had a ton of horse beneath me and had all the confidence in the world in her. I can’t wait to see where she goes next. She’s got a very bright future.”

With her victory in the Cincinnati Trophy, Botanical earned 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Jill Jitterbug, ridden by Manny Esquivel, finished second to earn 8 points. B G Warrior held third for 6 points while Bulsara and Miss Peabody completed the Top 5 and earned 4 and 2 points, respectively. Jill Jitterbug, B G Warrior, Bulsara and Miss Peabody were not made early nominees for the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) but if their connections pay a late payment of $1,500 by April 15, their points will be reflected on the leaderboard.

Botanical was well-backed at odds of 4-5 and paid $2 mutuel prices of $3.90, $3 and $2.76. Jill Jitterbug returned $11.74 and

$5.30. B G Warrior paid $5.08.

          Botanical improved her record to 5-3-1-0 and has now banked earnings of $196,610. Botanical is a 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Blame mare Daisy. She was bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farm and Godolphin.

            Fun and Feisty and Moon Magic Chrissy completed the order of finish.