Study Guide: 2024 Kentucky Oaks
Apr 29, 2024
Tarifa wins the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography / Credit to Lou Hodges, Jr.)
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.
A total of 16 horses entered the Oaks, including two also-eligibles who will only compete if scratches allow them to draw into the maximum 14-horse field.
Let's meet the Kentucky Oaks contenders:
Tapit Jenallie
Tapit Jenallie (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Willis Horton Racing
Breeder: Willis Horton Racing
Trainer: Eddie Milligan Jr.
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel
Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning her debut at Remington Park.
Total Earnings: $236,819
Sire: Tapit
Dam: Take Charge Tressa
Color: Chestnut
Tapit Jenallie 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
Gin Gin wins the Busanda at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Chelsea Durand)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 2
Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing third in the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $230,508
Sire: Hightail
Dam: Before You Know It
Color: Bay
Gin Gin 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 wins the Gazelle S. at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 8
Wins: 1
Place: 3
Show: 1
Owner: Michael McMillan
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Val Brinkerhoff
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Top Speed Rating: (104) when winning the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct
Total Earnings: $202,620
Sire: Twirling Candy
Dam: Mapit
Color: Bay
Where's My Ring 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
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Upson Downs Farm and Louis W. Wright
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing second in the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $114,274
Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Walkwithapurpose
Color: Bay
Regulatory Risk 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
Thorpedo Anna wins the Fantasy S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks, and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Judy Hicks
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the Fantasy (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $584,363
Sire: Fast Anna
Dam: Sataves
Color: Dark bay/brown
Thorpedo Anna 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.
Lemon Muffin
Lemon Muffin wins Honeybee Stakes wins at Oaklawn Park (Photo Coady Photography / Credit to Renee Torbit)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 4
Show: 0
Owner: Aaron Sones, Julie Gilbert, and Harrison M. Sones
Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Kuster and Collected Syndicate
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Keith Asmussen
Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $324,000
Sire: Collected
Dam: Pelt
Color: Gray/roan
Some bettors will disregard Lemon Muffin 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
Fiona's Magic wins The Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Stonehedge
Breeder: Stonehedge
Trainer: Michael Yates
Jockey: Luis Saez
Top Speed Rating: (94) when breaking her maiden at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $253,410
Sire: St Patrick's Day
Dam: Mollie's Magic
Color: Dark bay/brown
Fiona's Magic 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.
Tarifa
Tarifa wins the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography / Credit to Lou Hodges, Jr.)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $518,925
Sire: Bernardini
Dam: Kite Beach
Color: Dark bay/brown
The Kentucky Oaks favorite is Tarifa, 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
Everland wins the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography / Credit to Paige West)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Foster Family Racing, William J. Wargel, R. K. Eckrich Racing, and Maxis Stable
Breeder: George Strawbridge Jr.
Trainer: Eric Foster
Jockey: Abel Cedillo
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a $50,000 starter allowance at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $237,143
Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Ever Changing
Color: Gray/roan
Everland 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.
Into Champagne
Into Champagne wins the Glitter Woman (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Six Column Stables, Randall L. Bloch, Jim Gladden, Mike Davis, and Michael Steele
Breeder: Robert Low and Lawana Low
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing third in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $193,960
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Bedford Land
Color: Bay
Never out of the top three in four starts, Into Champagne 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.
Ways and Means
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Klaravich Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning her debut at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $165,750
Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Strong Incentive
Color: Bay
The Grade 1-placed Ways and Means 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
Power Squeeze wins the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay (Photo by SV Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 4
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Lea Farms
Breeder: Forging Oaks Farm
Trainer: Jorge Delgado
Jockey: Daniel Centeno
Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $337,450
Sire: Union Rags
Dam: Callmethesqueeze
Color: Chestnut
Power Squeeze 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
Just F Y I defeats Jody's Pride in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: George Krikorian
Breeder: George Krikorian
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,433,250
Sire: Justify
Dam: Star Act
Color: Bay
Just F Y I 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
Leslie's Rose wins at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Photography / Credit to Kurtis Coady)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Whisper Hill Farm
Breeder: John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $467,800
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Wildwood Rose
Color: Bay
Leslie's Rose 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.
(AE) Our Pretty Woman
Our Pretty Woman wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography / Credit to Renee Torbit)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Courtlandt Farms
Breeder: Woods Edge Farm and Godolphin
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a Fair Grounds allowance.
Total Earnings: $150,200
Sire: Medaglia d'Oro
Dam: Dazzletown
Color: Dark bay/brown
The lightly raced Our Pretty Woman easily won her first two starts, then finished second by three-quarters of a length against Tarifa in the Fair Grounds Oaks. A daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, who sired renowned 2009 Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra, Our Pretty Woman is progressing in the right direction and could be a live longshot if she draws in off the also-eligible list.
(AE) Candied
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
Breeder: Buck Pond Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $624,675
Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Toni Tools
Color: Bay
The second also-eligible entrant is Candied, winner of the Alcibiades (G1) and third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) last year. She started 2024 with a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Ashland (G1), but has posted sharp workouts since then and could improve in her second start of the season.
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