Meet the Contenders: 2024 Kentucky Oaks
Tarifa (Photo by Hodges Photgraphy)
April 23rd, 2024
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Tarifa (Photo by Hodges Photgraphy)
#1 Tarifa *****
Pro: Dominated the key Fair Grounds preps, which produced last year’s Oaks winner.
Con: Proved a bit hard to settle in Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and faces a much bigger field this time.
Tarifa was all class in her win in the @fairgroundsnola Oaks and is now headed for the Kentucky Oaks!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 25, 2024
Click the link below to add her to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/mytCpc4JUX pic.twitter.com/xzfCQ2saWF
#2 Where’s My Ring ***
Pro: Bolted up to win Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct, her first win in eight tries.
Con: This is a far more difficult assignment for a filly unused to winning much.
#1 Where's My Ring dominates in the G3 Gazelle S. and is a maiden no more! 💍
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 6, 2024
Jose Lezcano was up for trainer Val Brinkerhoff.
🎥 #TwinSpriesReplay pic.twitter.com/A2rsglWAJz
Power Squeeze (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
#3 Power Squeeze ****
Pro: Enters on a four-race win streak, including rallying Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) triumph.
Con: Beat fillies last time with questionable stamina; tougher challenge here.
#TwinSpiresTop5️⃣ performances from last weekend's racing.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 12, 2024
1️⃣ No More Time - Sam F. Davis
2️⃣ Power Squeeze - Suncoast S.
3️⃣ Valentine Candy - Ozark S.
4️⃣ Sibelius - Pelican S.
5️⃣ Nice as Pie - Valdale S. pic.twitter.com/OHJyoFc7x5
Leslie's Rose wins the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Media)
#4 Leslie’s Rose *****
Pro: Bounced back from first loss to win Ashland (G1) very impressively.
Con: Struggled racing inside rivals two back, still a potential issue.
#3 Leslie's Rose takes the G1 Ashland S. at Keeneland at 9/1 and earns 100 points towards the #KentuckyOaks! 🌹🌷@iradortiz was aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 5, 2024
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Aw4PVdFEL0
Thorpedo Anna wins the Fantasy (G2) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Media/Renee Torbit)
#5 Thorpedo Anna ****
Pro: Delivered scintillating win in the Fantasy (G3) off the bench; has won three of four.
Con: Hasn’t quite faced this quality of rival yet, and that’s the main drawback.
Thorpedo Anna impressed with a dominant victory in the Fantasy Stakes @OaklawnRacing on Saturday and gained 100 points on the Road to Kentucky Oaks 150!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 1, 2024
Click the link below to add her to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/res7E7mcCg pic.twitter.com/K6a7ghl6yT
Just F Y I wins the Frizette (G1) at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Chelsea Durand)
#6 Just F Y I ****
Pro: Juvenile champ ran well in Ashland, a race she needed off a long break.
Con: Some division rivals seem to have caught up with and passed her; must quicken some.
GIn Gin at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#7 Gin Gin *
Pro: Owns useful experience over the Churchill strip, including a stakes placing.
Con: Made little impact in softer Aqueduct preps.
This past Saturday, Gin Gin won 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks by winning the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 15, 2024
Click the link below to add the @bradcoxracing filly to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts and get notified the next time she runs! ⤵️ https://t.co/5aemTVkjT9 pic.twitter.com/O5ZS7dtFWv
Fiona's Magic wins the Dovona Dale (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Angelo Lieto)
#8 Fiona’s Magic *
Pro: Davona Dale (G2) heroine threw in towel early last time; capable of better.
Con: Speedy lass would seemingly be a lot more competitive around one turn.
Tapit Jenallie at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#9 Tapit Jenallie *
Pro: Stakes winner has been landing minor shares at Oaklawn, for what it’s worth.
Con: Winless since November and must take it up several notches to get a piece here.
Everland wins the Bourbonette Oaks (Photo by Coady Photography)
#10 Everland *
Pro: 2-for-3 since the claim, including upset win in Bourbonette Oaks.
Con: Unproven over a conventional dirt track and lacks relative back class.
An 11/1 top pick winner for @scottshap34!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 23, 2024
#10 Everland upsets in the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park for trainer Eric Foster with Abel Cedillo in the irons! She picks up 50 #KentuckyOaks points! 🌷
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/blKZE0azyd
Lemon Muffin breaking her maiden in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography/Renee Torbit)
#11 Lemon Muffin **
Pro: Dazzling maiden win in Honeybee (G3) two back for five-time Oaks winner Lukas.
Con: Never involved in the Fantasy and perhaps a cut or two below the best here.
Lemon Muffin broke her maiden in emphatic fashion winning the Honeybee Stakes @OaklawnRacing on Saturday and gaining 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 26, 2024
Add her to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts by clicking the link below!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/ObynAI8ZZl pic.twitter.com/DJfKC5z9B9
Into Champagne wins the Glitter Woman (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#12 Into Champagne **
Pro: Consistent record so far, winning or placing in all four starts.
Con: Duel and fade over 1 1/16 miles suggest nine furlongs might be a stretch
#10 Into Champagne wins on debut for fun in R8 at Ellis Park under @JulienLeparoux for trainer @IanWilkesRacing! 🥂
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) June 16, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/6mx351wngf
TwinSpires
#13 Ways and Means ****
Pro: Tough-trip second in Gulfstream Park Oaks off long layoff; can progress.
Con: Best odds ever await longtime backers, but still likely to be overbet.
#5 Ways and Means dominates in R2 at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown with Flavien Prat! 🏇
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 6, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/oUqOWUeN7F
TwinSpires
#14 Manama Gold **
Pro: Louisiana-bred cut her teeth in Dubai, where she went undefeated over the winter.
Con: Wasn’t facing much overseas and runner-up in UAE Oaks (G3) still a maiden.
Our Pretty Woman at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#15 Our Pretty Woman ***
Pro: Ran super in stakes debut loss to Tarifa by a narrow margin.
Con: Likely must deal with a lot of other speed here while stretching out farther.
#8 Our Pretty Woman splashes home and remains a perfect 2-for-2 in R5 @fairgroundsnola under @jrosariojockey for trainer Steve Asmussen! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 17, 2024
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay #FG152 @johngdooley pic.twitter.com/tfpnZLhA1g
#16 Candied ***
Pro: One of the best of her generation at two and can move forward off belated season debut.
Con: Never made an impact despite going favored in Ashland.
#3 Candied takes the G1 Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland for trainer Todd Pletcher with @luissaezpty aboard! 🍭🍬
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 6, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/d4ZHAjxKSY
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