Fractious Lays “Waste” to KY Oaks Field

By Cozman on May 3, 2024

Friday, May 3, 2024
Post Time 8:05pm EDT

7 CD KY Oaks (GI)

Purse $1,500.000 3yoF 1 1/8m Dirt 121lbs Preference to TC-KYO Qualifications

We didn’t do our best handicapping here, but the way the tote was lit up in the 2024 KY Oaks (GI), here in Louisville on Friday, seems nobody was at 100%… well, except Fractious. That powerhouse stable continued their big year as Wasted Away, sent off at 21/1 odds, closed from well back in the field of fourteen to grab the big win by a quarter-length while stopping the clock at 1:50.15 for the mile and an eighth. The main track was listed as Good. For a minute there, it looked like Maxmillon Farm’s Decimas Queen was going to pull the upset… also sent off at greater than 20/1 odds, she had a clear lead in the lane but could not hold off the eventual winner, while holding on for the second spot by a head over post-time favorite Spirit Storm, owned by Nakamura Stables, then three-quarters of a length to the winner’s stable-mate Purple Charter in fourth. Seven lengths covered the field of fourteen, and we did have three scratches in the race.

Congratulations to Fractious for yet another huge, huge win!!

The gate was full for the 2024 KY Oaks, and away in good order… as they passed the stands the first time by, headed into the clubhouse turn and seven and a half furlongs to run, Let Me Explain able to cross over to the rail and secure the early advantage. Mint Chocolate moving up widest of all, Decimas Queen next to her, then down to the rail for Be Yourself, Purple Charger four wide, Beach Towel in the three position, Aghast between horses, then Pinnacle Reject widest of all. Back down to the rail for Spirit Storm, then a length and a half to Wasted Away, Lady Lara just to her inside, then out to Agapova, Nazca Lines to her inside and then Midnight Ruble, tailed.

Around the clubhouse turn and on to the backside, Let Me Explain showing the way, by a length, Decimas Queen tracking that one between horses, Mint Chocolate to her outside, Beach Towel to her inside, then a length to the foursome of Be Yourself on the rail, Pinnacle Reject on the far outside, the Purple Charger next to that one and Aghast to the inside. Another gap to Spirit Storm, then a length to Wasted Away, the trailing foursome of Lady Lara, Midnight Rumble, Nazca Lines and Agapova.

Moving down the backside and into the far turn, now three furlongs to run, Decimas Queen moved up on the flank of Let Me Explain and stuck a nose in front, Mint Chocolate still out wider, and down to the rail for Be Yourself, Purple Charger, back inside to Beach Towel, outside to Pinnacle Reject, then a length to Aghast, another length to Spirit Storm, then a gap to the outside for Wasted Away now inching forward, Lady Lara on the inside of Midnight Rumble, Nazca Lines feeling the whip and Agapova was the trailer.

The field made their way around the far turn and into the lane with three sixteenths to run, Decimas Queen pushing clear to lead by a length and a half, Let Me Explain trying to keep things going, Be Yourself was headed in the wrong direction , Be Yourself on the rail, then Purple Charger, Mint Chocolate trying to find more down the outside, back down to the rail for Aghast, Spirit Storm next to that one, Pinnacle Reject in the middle of horses and Wasted Away continuing to press forward from the outside. Back to Beach Towel, Lady Lara on the rail, Midnight Rumble, Nazca Lines starting to wind up and Agapova put the cue in the rack.

Now inside the final sixteenth and to the finish, Decimas Queen looking like this was over, but Wasted Away saying not so fast and flying home down the outside, Purple Charger trying to find more and Be Yourself on the rial, Spirit Storm flying home, and the rest were looking for anything to get them home…

Deep stretch, and in the blink of an eye, Wasted Away move pas Decimas Queen and set sail for the big win… that move was just what she needed to take home the win, going under the wire clear by three quarters of a length. Decimas Queen was game to the end, taking the second spot by a head over the fast-closing Spirit Storm, then another three quarters of a length to Purple Charger in the minor money position… then it was heads apart to Nazca Lines in fifth, Midnight Rumble in sixth and Be Yourself in seventh. Another half-length to Lady Lara eighth, Let Me Explain ninth, Aghast tenth, Mint Chocolate eleventh, Pinnacle Reject twelfth, Agapova thirteenth, and Beach Towel close this one out.