2024 Kentucky Oaks

A full field of three-year-old fillies will race 1 1/8 miles in the 150th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Tapit Jenallie (1) has recorded top-four finishes in a trio of Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifiers, but she was beaten 7 1/4 lengths in the Fantasy (G2) last time out, and her career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Kentucky Oaks field.

Gin Gin (2) enters off sharp workouts for two-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Brad Cox, but she finished third by 9 1/2 lengths in the Gazelle (G3) last time out and will need improvement to turn the tables on Gazelle 1-2 finishers Where’s My Ring and Regulatory Risk.

Where’s My Ring (3) was much the best when making her first start outside of California in New York’s Gazelle (G3), tracking the pace before drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths with an eye-catching 104 Brisnet Speed rating. That’s the highest number in the Kentucky Oaks field, so Where’s My Ring has to be viewed as a viable win threat.

Regulatory Risk (4) couldn’t keep pace with Where’s My Ring in the Gazelle (G3), finishing second by 4 1/4 lengths, but she pulled 5 1/4 lengths ahead of Gin Gin while earning a strong 99 Brisnet Speed rating. There are things to like about this improving Chad Brown trainee.

Thorpedo Anna (5) has shown flashes of brilliance, most notably when dominating the Fantasy (G2) by four lengths in her 2024 debut. Thorpedo Anna isn’t the fastest Kentucky Oaks entrant from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective (her best number is a 91), but she’s a strong finisher who shouldn’t be underestimated at Churchill Downs.

Some bettors will disregard Lemon Muffin (6) based off her seventh-place finish in the Fantasy (G2), but two starts back she unleashed a big finish to win the Honeybee (G3) by 3 1/2 lengths over Tapit Jenallie. A rebound in the Kentucky Oaks isn’t out of the question.

Fiona’s Magic (7) completely misfired in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), finishing eighth by a wide margin, but she’d previously wired the Davona Dale (G2) over a field including future Ashland (G1) winner Leslie’s Rose. If you’re willing to forgive the Gulfstream Park Oaks, Fiona’s Magic is an interesting longshot.

The Kentucky Oaks favorite is Tarifa (8), a Godolphin homebred with consecutive victories in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) under her belt. Sharp workouts at Churchill Downs suggest this daughter of champion Bernardini has a strong chance to give trainer Brad Cox his third Kentucky Oaks win.

Everland (9) has yet to race on dirt, but her pedigree suggests the surface switch won’t be an issue. She rallied nicely to win the Bourbonette Oaks on synthetic last time out and may outrun expectations at Churchill Downs.

Never out of the top three in four starts, Into Champagne (10) has shown talent finishing second in the Davona Dale (G2) and third in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), but her career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating is a little on the low side.

The Grade 1-placed Ways and Means (11) recently returned from a long layoff to finish second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), beaten only one length after making an early move to lead in midstretch. She enters the Kentucky Oaks off fast workouts, so if Ways and Means improves in her second start of the season, she can challenge for victory.

Power Squeeze (12) employed more patient racing tactics than Ways and Means in the Gulfstream Park Oaks and was rewarded with a rallying one-length victory. That marked Power Squeeze’s fourth consecutive victory since stretching out over one mile and farther, so she’s a winning machine who shouldn’t be underestimated at Churchill Downs.

Just F Y I (13) was voted champion two-year-old filly of 2023 after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Frizette (G1) with strong Brisnet Speed ratings of 100 and 96. Her 2024 debut was delayed due to illness, but when she made her belated return in the Ashland (G1), she finished a good second with a 94 Brisnet Speed rating. Just F Y I has upside for improvement in her second run of the year.

Leslie’s Rose (14) couldn’t keep pace with Fiona’s Magic and Into Champagne in the Davona Dale (G2), finishing third by 2 1/4 lengths. But when she stretched out around two turns for the first time in the Ashland (G1), Leslie’s Rose launched a sharp rally from just off the pace to beat Just F Y I by three lengths with a 98 Brisnet Speed rating. Leslie’s Rose is a legitimate Kentucky Oaks win threat even while breaking from the far outside post 14.