Study Guide: 2025 Kentucky Oaks

Apr 24, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Good Cheer pulls away from Ahavah in the Fair Grounds Oaks (Photo by Hodges Photography / Jan Brubaker)

An impressive group of fillies is slated to contest the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/8-mile race for three-year-old fillies is expected to feature a full field of 14 starters, including 11 stakes winners. Let’s take a horse-by-horse tour through the prospective entries:

Quietside

Quietside wins at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Chelsea Durand)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Shortleaf Stable
Breeder: Shortleaf Stable
Trainer: John Ortiz
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $957,200

Sire: Malibu Moon
Dam: Benner Island
Color: Dark bay/brown

Quietside enters the Kentucky Oaks in career-best form, having posted back-to-back wins against tough competition in the Honeybee (G3) and Fantasy (G2). She’s a logical threat to upset the expected favorite, Good Cheer.

La Cara

La Cara set the pace and held on from Take Charge Milady in the Ashland (G1). (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 9
Wins: 4
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Tracy Farmer
Breeder: Tracy Farmer
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $866,083

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Cara Caterina
Color: Bay

Winner of the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs last year, La Cara elevated her game to a new level in last month’s Ashland (G1) at Keeneland, leading all the way to score by 1 1/4 lengths. This speedy filly is improving and has a shot to wire the Kentucky Oaks field.

Good Cheer

Good Cheer with Luis Saez aboard wins the 58th running of the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

Start(s): 6
Wins: 6
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning a Churchill Downs allowance.
Total Earnings: $877,630

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro
Dam: Wedding Toast
Color: Bay

Good Cheer hasn’t tasted defeat in six starts, including four Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifiers. She’s posted dominant wins in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) this year and is clearly the filly to beat at Churchill Downs.

.@AshleyAnd502 caught up with @bradcoxracing this morning following Good Cheer’s 5F work in :59.40.

Watch her full workout and hear more about the @Godolphin homebred and expected favorite in the Kentucky Oaks 🌸
🎥 @HorseRacingKK pic.twitter.com/TbKWtEMxzx

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 17, 2025

Five G

Five G wins the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Gatsas Stables
Breeder: Gatsas Stable
Trainer: George Weaver
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Cash Run S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $393,740

Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Triumphant
Color: Bay

After finishing second to Quietside in the Honeybee (G3), Five G led from start to finish in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). She’s progressing in the right direction and may have a shot to turn the tables on Quietside in the Kentucky Oaks.

Ballerina d’Oro

Ballerina d'Oro wins the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Rodeo Creek Racing
Breeder: Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $286,975

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro
Dam: In the Moonlight
Color: Gray/roan

Ballerina d’Oro was as tenacious as could be in the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct last month, prevailing by a nose after a long homestretch battle. This improving filly has run well against La Cara in the past and can’t be counted out of the mix.

Tenma

Tenma and jockey Juan Hernandez win the Fasig Tipton Las Virgenes S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
© BENOIT PHOTO

Start(s): 6
Wins: 5
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Baoma Corp
Breeder: B. Flay Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning the Starlet (G2) at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $549,000

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Amagansett
Color: Dark bay/brown

Tenma has been dominant on the West Coast, winning the Del Mar Debutante (G1), Oak Leaf (G2), Las Virgenes (G3), and Santa Anita Oaks (G2) since September. The 97 Brisnet Speed rating Tenma posted in the Starlet is the highest number in the Kentucky Oaks field, suggesting she’s a win threat in her first start outside of California.

Early On

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: C2 Racing Stable, Ken T. Reimer, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, and Bradley D. Kent
Breeder: John Lauriello
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $162,200

Sire: Union Rags
Dam: Sally O’Brien
Color: Bay

Early On rallied late to finish second by half a length in the Virginia Oaks, then ran second by a nose after vying for the early lead in the Gazelle (G3). Her versatility could be an asset in this large Kentucky Oaks field.

Take Charge Milady

Take Charge Milady was runner-up in the Ashland (G1). (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: James Ball, Magdalena Racing, and Kenneth Rhodes
Breeder: Merriebelle Stable
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $416,469

Sire: Take Charge Indy
Dam: Price Too High
Color: Dark bay/brown

Take Charge Milady made up a lot of ground down the homestretch of the Ashland (G1), ultimately finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths against La Cara. She’s gained ground or pulled away down the homestretch in four of her last five starts, so tackling 1 1/8 miles for the first time in the Kentucky Oaks may suit Take Charge Milady to perfection.

Simply Joking

Simply Joking splashed clear in the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner, and Berkels0813
Breeder: Barlar
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $288,000

Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Imply
Color: Bay

Simply Joking won her first two starts, including the Silverbulletday S., before finishing second by three-quarters of a length to Quietside in the Fantasy (G2). She’s clearly a talented filly, but Simply Joking likes to race on the lead, and she’ll face a few formidable pace rivals in the Kentucky Oaks.

Bless the Broken

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Cypress Creek Equine and Madaket Stables
Breeder: Cypress Creek Equine
Trainer: William Walden
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $282,835

Sire: Laoban
Dam: The Nightingale
Color: Dark bay/brown

Bless the Broken was clearly best in the Bourbonette Oaks, charging from off the pace to win by 2 3/4 lengths. But that race took place over a synthetic track, and Bless the Broken hasn’t fared as well on dirt, finishing behind Kentucky Oaks rivals Good Cheer, Simply Joking, and Ballerina d’Oro in Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifiers. Switching back to dirt is a question mark.

Drexel Hill

Drexel Hill wins the Busher at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Janet Garaguso)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Legion Racing
Breeder: Tuscany Bloodstock
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Ben Curtis

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing third in the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $180,520

Sire: Bolt d’Oro
Dam: Ascot Walk
Color: Dark bay/brown

Drexel Hill exits a win in the Busher S. two months ago, but a previous third-place finish against Simply Joking and Bless the Broken in the Silverbulletday S. suggests turning the tables on those rivals could be tricky.

Fondly

Fondly wins the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Lauren Johnson)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (84) when winning a Tampa Bay Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $169,200

Sire: Upstart
Dam: Lifetime Memory
Color: Bay

Fondly is unbeaten in two starts, including a half-length triumph in the Virginia Oaks. But her career-best 84 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Kentucky Oaks field.

Anna's Promise

Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Bell Racing
Breeder: Baron Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Carlos David
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $150,854

Sire: Promises Fulfilled
Dam: Caroline Lois
Color: Chestnut

Anna’s Promise made her stakes debut in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), finishing second by 2 1/4 lengths against Five G. It was an admirable try, but Anna’s Promise will need a step forward to change the outcome in their rematch at Churchill Downs.

Quickick

Quickick wins at Saratoga. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Susie Raisher)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Greenwell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Whisper Hill Farm
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $396,000

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Graeme Six
Color: Bay

Quickick placed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Alcibiades (G1) last year, but she hasn’t been as sharp this season, running fifth in the Honeybee (G3) and fourth in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). She’ll need to recapture her juvenile form to factor in the Kentucky Oaks.