2024 Kentucky Oaks Contenders

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Kentucky Oaks Contenders & Top Horses to Watch in 2024

The $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks is the top American race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies each spring. With a winner’s share of $750,000, the 1 1/8-mile event at Churchill Downs will be targeted by top stables from across the country.

The Kentucky Oaks is held the day before the Kentucky Derby.

Contenders begin to emerge during the summer/fall of the two-year-old season, with the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies serving as a prime feeder race for juvenile runners, and fans begin to seriously scrutinize prospects once sophomore prep races kick off in January.

Like the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks features a “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” schedule of races to determine eligibility, with the top 4 finishers earning points on a sliding scale.

Venues such as Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita offer a series of races for Oaks hopefuls, but contenders will emerge from other locales as well.

The 2024 Kentucky Oaks Contenders List

Below is a current leaderboard showing contenders for the 2024 Kentucky Oaks who have earned qualification points via prep races:

2023 Kentucky Oaks Morning Line Odds and Post Positions

1 MIMI KAKUSHI (20-1): City of Light filly won three races in succession in Dubai topped by the UAE Oaks (G3) in her most recent performance. The Kentucky-bred bay displayed positional speed in each of her victories in the desert, but she faces a tough task in this race while making her U.S. debut. Mickael Barzelona comes in to ride the top-four threat who will be saving ground throughout.

2 THE ALYS LOOK (15-1): Silverbulletday S. vixen was outrun in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) most recently and needs to improve off of that showing in order to compete with the best in this spot. Brad Cox pupil has plenty of ability and is training well, so she can surely make the frame if she brings her best with Javier Castellano in the irons.

3 GAMBLING GIRL (15-1): New York-bred sophomore has run her three best races at 1 1/8 miles and rates as a logical exotics contender for Todd Pletcher. Daughter of Dialed In had a good prep for the Oaks when second in the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct, and the bay will be doing her best work from off of the early tempo at a nice price under Irad Ortiz Jr.

4 SOUTHLAWN (8-1): Norm Casse trainee has shown marked improvement in her pair of 2023 outings and rates a big chance with another move forward while making her third run off the bench. Pioneerof the Nile three-year-old dominated the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in her latest venture and belongs on the list of major players in the field with Reylu Gutierrez up.

5 WONDER WHEEL (12-1): Champion two-year-old has left much to be desired from her two performances this campaign for Mark Casse. Two-time Grade 1 heroine didn’t show much in the recent Ashland (G1) at Keeneland, but the daughter of Into Mischief has been training swiftly since, and she has a ton of back class as well. Joel Rosario inherits the mount.

6 BOTANICAL (4-1): Powerful daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has improved her Brisnet Speed rating in every lifetime outing and rides in on a four-race win streak for conditioner Brad Cox. The speedy Kentucky-bred has never run on dirt, but if she takes to the main oval, then the bay will be a menacing figure turning for home under Chris Landeros.

7 WET PAINT (5-2): Streaking Blame filly is 3-for-3 in 2023 and looks like the one to beat in this deep affair. Brad Cox trainee has never lost from four lifetime races on dirt and possesses a potent turn-of-foot that will play well in her first try at 1 1/8 miles. Godolphin homebred will have regular pilot Flavien Prat in the silks.

8 PROMISEHER AMERICA (30-1): Gazelle (G3) heroine has won two straight in advance of her biggest test to date for trainer Raymond Handal. The chestnut daughter of American Pharoah handled 1 1/8 miles well in her most recent race, and she is expected to be forwardly placed from the opening bell in the Oaks.

9 AND TELL ME NOLIES (15-1): Del Mar Debutante (G1) queen has run into a fantastic filly in each of her 2023 races to date and could be sitting on a big run third time back off the layoff. Peter Miller trainee is a bit of a question mark at the distance, however, and I feel that others will be showing more acceleration in the stretch on Friday. Regular pilot Ramon Vazquez has the call.

10 FLYING CONNECTION (15-1): Wildcard in the field has yet to be headed since stretching out for trainer Todd Fincher, easily defeating a pair of stakes fields at Sunland Park along the way. The bay daughter of Nyquist is the likely early leader in the affair and could get brave if left alone for too long on Friday. Florent Geroux riding is a bonus.

11 DEFINING PURPOSE (15-1): Cross Traffic filly put in her best effort so far when upsetting the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland in her latest endeavor. Kenny McPeek trainee broke her maiden at Churchill Downs as a juvenile, and she will be in the hunt late with something resembling her latest performance. Brian Hernandez Jr. will guide the gray.

12 DORTH VADER (20-1): Florida shipper romped in the Davona Dale (G2) two back which preceded a fourth-place finish in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) for trainer Michael Yates. Dark bay daughter of Girvin gives the impression of a filly meant for shorter distances at this level, so she would be a bit of a surprise against this deep cast. The talented miss will be forwardly placed early on with Luis Saez in the stirrups.

13 AFFIRMATIVE LADY (10-1): Graham Motion trainee is perfect from two assignments since adding blinkers, led by a tally in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in her latest venture. Arrogate gray has tactical speed with a good closing kick, and the Kentucky-bred is cut out to love the 1 1/8-mile distance. John Velazquez will be in the saddle.

14 PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (10-1): Consistently good filly from the barn of Brendan Walsh has never run a poor race and has enjoyed success beneath the Twin Spires. The Godolphin homebred was a clear second in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) most recently and will be forwardly placed from the break with Tyler Gaffalione in the silks. She offers good value at her morning line odds.

15 TAXED (20-1): Former claimer has placed in two stakes events this campaign, led by a second-place result in the Fantasy (G3) last time out. The gray Collected filly has good gate presence and a solid turn-of-foot, but she will need a major step forward (and a scratch allowing her to draw in off the also-eligible list) to challenge this group inside the final furlong.

16 JULIA SHINING (15-1): Exquisitely-bred Curlin filly earned a lifetime best Brisnet Speed rating when a close third in the Ashland (G1) in her debut with blinkers on. Todd Pletcher trainee is a Grade 2 winner over 1 1/8 miles and could be rounding up to a peak performance while making her third start off of the layoff. The bay will be running from off of the early tempo on Friday if she gets in off the also-eligible list.

17 HOOSIER PHILLY (30-1): Tom Amoss trainee was a dynamic juvenile last campaign, which included a facile victory in the Golden Rod (G2) in her 2022 finale, but the gray has yet to show the same class this season. Into Mischief filly does love this venue and has to be given an exotics look if she draws into the cast, but she’d be a major surprise if she springs the upset beneath Edgar Morales.