Wet Paint Runs Downs Sacred Wish in CCA Oaks

Wet Paint , the beaten favorite in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1), was relentless in the stretch July 22 to outfinish a stubborn Sacred Wish  and complete a last-to-first victory in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. 

As expected, She's Lookin Lucky  set the pace through early fractions of :24.67 and :48.81. Forwardly placed Sacred Wish joined the vanguard through three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.59 before opening up by as much as three lengths in the stretch. Wet Paint, however, after going around the rest of the field approaching the quarter pole, uncorked down the middle of the track to collar Sacred Wish in the final strides and win by a long neck in 1:50.68 for 1 1/8 miles. She paid $4.90 to win.

Favored Gambling Girl , runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks, made a move into the stretch but was quickly passed by the eventual winner and settled for a well-beaten third. She's Lookin Lucky and Southlawn , the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) heroine, completed the order of finish. 

Godolphin's Wet Paint, a homebred daughter of Blame  , is trained by Brad Cox, who won this race in 2018 with Monomoy Girl . 

Hoosier Philly  was scratched the morning of the race "due to a minor foot issue" and "out of an abundance of caution," according to a tweet from trainer Tom Amoss.