How to bet the 2024 Monmouth Oaks

A mostly well-matched field of eight sophomore fillies will go postward in Saturday’s $250,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3). The 1 1/16-mile dirt affair is led by Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) heroine #5 Gun Song, the lone stakes winner in the cast. 

Monmouth Oaks Wagers

• $20 exacta 5 with 1 ($20)
• $10 exacta 5 with 2 ($10)
• $5 trifecta key 5 with 1,2 ($10)

Trained by Mark Hennig, the $400,000 juvenile purchase flashed potential from a pair of runs at two, but she really elevated her game when adding blinkers to commence 2024. She ran a pair of strong allowance races at Gulfstream Park prior to checking in fourth in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) behind two excellent performers. 

Gun Song was a facile winner at Pimlico two back while going two turns for the initial time, and while she trailed the field under the wire in the recent Acorn S. (G1) at Saratoga, I won’t hold that against her as Thorpedo Anna has crushed the spirit of many fillies this campaign. 

On Saturday, the daughter of Gun Runner will be forcing the early tempo potentially on the front end with the other pace in the heat drawn to her outside. If she does clear early, then the Kentucky-bred will be super tough to run down late with Julien Leparoux in the stirrups. 

I’ll use the leading selection with the pair of runners drawn nearest to the rail for the exotics. The Grade-2 placed #1 Scalable got up late in an allowance triumph at Churchill Downs last time out and is the main threat to my top pick. The Speightstown filly has a great draw along the rail and will save ground throughout under Paco Lopez. 

#2 Chilled drew off in the lane during an impressive maiden score in her latest showing, and I don’t think that it was a fluke performance. Trained by Victoria Oliver, the Frosted filly has displayed a nice turn of foot in her 2024 outings, and she seems to be thriving right now. The gray fired a bullet four panels at Keeneland in advance of this one, and local legend Joe Bravo will take the reins.