Bourbonette Oaks

Stop me if you've heard this one before: A horse gets claimed for a relatively cheap $30,000, later scores qualifying points at Turfway Park in March to get into one of the sport's most prestigious races at Churchill Downs, then ends up winning a career-defining Grade I stakes at improbable odds on the first weekend of May. That storyline describes the long-shot career of Rich Strike, who upset the GI Kentucky Derby at 80-1 back in 2022. But it also could be the 2024 script for newly crowned stakes victress...

Undefeated since announcing her arrival to Turfway Park with a 10 3/4-length romp to break her maiden last November, Botanical followed that performance up with two more jaw-dropping efforts at a mile on the tapeta including a last-out win in the Cincinnati Trophy S. Mar. 4. Off that race, which earned her a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, Botanical was slammed in even-money favoritism for her fourth straight Turfway appearance. Given the extra sixteenth to work with, the bay showed a good turn of foot from the blocks to set the...

Adventuring opened her career with three off-turf races at Fair Grounds, most recently romping to a 6 1/2-length maiden score going one mile and 70 yards in New Orleans Feb. 16. Moving to the synthetic for this stakes debut, the bay filly was well off the pace set by the loose-on-the-lead Spritz. She made eye-catching progress on the far turn and stormed to the lead into the stretch, momentarily drifting out as the pacesetter fought back along the rail, but Adenturing powered clear once righted for a confident tally. Adventuring...