Wet Paint splashes to glory in G3 Honeybee Stakes

Wet Paint booked her spot alongside Pretty Mischievous in this year’s Kentucky Oaks as she powered home for a remarkable win in the extended-mile G3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park, USA, on Saturday, 25 February.

The Brad Cox-trained filly had quickened from last to first when scoring in the Martha Washington Stakes over the same course and trip in January, and once again found herself at the rear of the 12 runners following a sluggish start.

Flavien Prat cut every corner down the inside rail but Wet Paint still had eight lengths to make up on the leader Condensation turning in.

The Blame homebred looked set for a mid-field finish after making modest headway in the straight before displaying an electric turn of foot between horses in the final furlong, taking her from sixth to first in a matter of strides.

Wet Paint skipped away from the field for a three-length success on a sloppy track, moving her to the head of the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 70 points.

Brad Cox said: “Flavien stayed on the rail, which I think was the most important thing. It was a great ride, a very patient ride. He had a lot more to do at the quarter-pole compared to the Martha Washington but Wet Paint keeps improving and she should like going a mile and eighth.

“We have to figure out a way of getting her to the Oaks and I think the G3 Fantasy Stakes back here would be the logical spot moving forward.”

Flavien Prat said: “I was far back down the back – the pace was slow but I didn’t think that I had much chance from where I was. Wet Paint definitely kicked home well and she likes to run from behind. She really showed a nice turn of foot.”