Betting the 2023 Kentucky Oaks on different budgets

A giant field has turned out to contest the 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. A total of 17 three-year-old fillies have entered the 1 1/8-mile race, with a maximum of 14 allowed to start.

There are many viable contenders in this deep and competitive field, but we’ll focus our attention on three who enter in hot form: #7 Wet Paint (5-2), #6 Botanical (4-1), and #4 Southlawn (8-1).

Wet Paint is unbeaten in four starts on dirt and boasts a 3-for-3 record this season, unleashing giant homestretch rallies to dominate the Martha Washington S., Honeybee (G3), and Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Conditioned by two-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Brad Cox, Wet Paint has already beaten accomplished Kentucky Oaks contenders like Ashland (G1) winner #11 Defining Purpose (12-1) and Gazelle (G3) runner-up #3 Gambling Girl (15-1), so the morning line favorite is the filly to beat.

A key challenger is Wet Paint’s stablemate Botanical, who has won four consecutive starts over the Turfway Park Tapeta track by a minimum of 2 1/2 lengths. Last time out she wired the Bourbonette Oaks against her talented stable companion Flashy Gem. Botanical is bred top and bottom to thrive on dirt and may prove difficult to run down in the Kentucky Oaks.

As for Southlawn, she’s 2-for-2 this year, smashing a Fair Grounds allowance optional claimer by eight lengths before rallying strongly to beat a deep field in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). The daughter of Pioneerof the Nile is progressing in the right direction and enters off strong workouts at Churchill Downs, setting the stage for a top-three finish.

Ashland (G1) winner #11 Defining Purpose (12-1) and Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up #14 Pretty Mischievous (10-1) are other fillies with the credentials to challenge in the Kentucky Oaks.

Splitting Wet Paint, Botanical, and Southlawn for top honors isn’t easy. Ultimately, we’ll favor Wet Paint for her accomplishments and Botanical for the tactical advantage her early speed offers.

We’ve outlined three Kentucky Oaks wagering strategies at costs of $20 (focusing on the exacta), $60 (adding the trifecta), and $100 (adding the superfecta):

$20 budget

• $5 Exacta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 ($20)

$60 budget

• $8 Exacta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 ($32)
• $4 Trifecta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 with 4,6,7 ($16)
• $1.50 Trifecta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 with 11,14 ($12)

$100 budget

• $11 Exacta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 ($44)
• $6 Trifecta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 with 4,6,7 ($24)
• $2 Trifecta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 with 11,14 ($16)
• $1 Superfecta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 with 4,6,7 with 11,14 ($8)
• $1 Superfecta: 6,7 with 4,6,7 with 11,14 with 4,6,7 ($8)

Good luck!

---

Find expert analysis and overviews of all the contenders for the Kentucky Derby on our News & Notes page here on TwinSpires.com!