Kentucky Oaks 2024 Update (2-12-24)

By Jarrod Horak

The Suncoast and Las Virgenes Stakes were the latest road to Kentucky Oaks 2024 points races. In this article, I will look back at those races and update my “Fabulous 5” Oaks contenders. The Rachel Alexandra (Feb. 17) and Sunland Oaks (Feb, 18) are the next two Kentucky Oaks points races. 

In my last Kentucky Oaks update, I dropped Thorpedo Anna drops off my list due to no published works since her runner-up finish in the Golden Rod (G2) last November. She had her first workout of the year on Feb. 10 (3f in 37.80 at Fair Grounds). If she keeps up her regular morning activity, I can see her being ready for the FG Oaks on March 23. 

I also mentioned Ways and Means in my last Oaks report. Chad Brown’s filly has recovered from an ankle chip. She returned to the worktab on Feb. 4 (easy 3f in 38.80), and went 3f again in 37.60 on Feb. 11.  

Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Race Recaps

Suncoast Stakes (2-10-24)

Fractions – 24.67, 48.94, 1;13.06, 1:37.89, 1;40.22

Top 5 Finishers: Power Squeeze, Whocouldaskformo, America’s Vow, Managing Mischief, Gorgeous Girl

Life Talk was 40 cents on the dollar following a front running victory in the Demoiselle (G2). She was not quick into stride this time, and slowly moved up outside to stalk the pace under Jose Ortiz. She made a bid around the final turn but came up empty in the lane and ran last. Second betting choice Power Squeeze saved ground stalking the pace, and found running room along the rail in the lane and kicked away to win by 2 3/4 lengths. She got a great trip under Daniel Centeno. Shug McGaughey’s recent graduate Whocouldaskformo came running from last and just grabbed the place over America’s Vow. Managing Mischief set the pace and weakened to 4th, and Gorgeous Girl chased and faded. I was not impressed with any of these and would like to play against perfect-trip winner Power Squeeze next time. 

Las Virgenes Stakes (2-10-24)

Fractions – 22.99, 46.91, 1:10.82, 1:23.35, 1:37.03

Top 5 Finishers: Kinza, Kopion, She’s a Tempest, Nothing Like You, Great Forty Eight

Kinza accomplished what her stablemate Hopkins could not. The latter set the pace under Juan Hernandez and got tagged very late in the Palos Verdes. Once again, Hernandez seized control early under Kinza, and this talented filly had no intention of stopping. She was just cruising along on the front end as the even money favorite. My top choice Kopion chased from second throughout and never stopped trying, but Kinza had the tactical advantage and never let her rival get too close in a 2 length victory. Kopion was second best under Flavien Prat, and She’s a Tempest chased the pace and was miles clear of the rest in third. Nothing Like You and Great Forty Eight also ran. The final time was 1:37.03. Bob Baffert saddled the winner and his runners are ineligible to earn Kentucky Oaks points. Kinza is now 2-for-2, and the Santa Ysabel on March 3 and the SA Oaks on April 6 are the next two stakes routes for sophomore fillies at Santa Anita.  

Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Race Results 

Pocahontas (10-5-3-2-1) – Sep. 16 – Winner: V V’s Dream ($4.40)

Alcibiades (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 6 – Winner: Candied ($10.16)

Frizette (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 7 – Winner: Just F Y I ($11.60)

Chandelier (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 7 – Winner: Chatalas ($8.20)

Rags to Riches (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 29 – Winner: West Sunset ($17.72)

BC Juvenile Fillies (30-15-9-6-3) – Nov. 3 – Winner: Just F Y I ($16.00)

Golden Rod (10-5-3-2-1) – Nov. 25 – Winner: Intricate ($14.66)

Demoiselle (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 2 – Winner: Life Talk (4.00)

Starlet (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 9 – Winner: Nothing Like You ($6.20)

Untapable (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 23 – Winner: Alpine Princess ($5.40)

Sant Ynez (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 7 – Winner: Kopion ($2.40) 

Busanda (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 13 – Winner: Gin Gin ($7.60)

Silverbulletday (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 20 – Winner: West Omaha ($3.80)

Forward Gal (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 3 – Winner: R Harper Rose ($6.40)

Martha Washington (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 3 – Winner: Band of Gold ($50.60)

Las Virgenes (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 10 – Winner: Kinza ($4.00)

Suncoast (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 10 – Winner: Power Squeeze ($8.00)

Upcoming Races:

Rachel Alexandra (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 17 

Sunland Park Oaks (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 18

UAE Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 23

Honeybee (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 24 

Cincinnati Trophy (20-10-6-4-2) – March 1

Busher (50-25-15-10-5) – March 2 

Davona Dale (50-25-15-10-5) – March 2 

Santa Ysabel (50-25-15-10-5) – March 3 

FG Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 23 

Bourbonette Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – March 23

GP Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 30 

Fantasy (100-50-25-15-10) – March 30

Ashland (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5 

Gazelle (100-50-25-15-10) – April 6 

SA Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – April 6 

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Top 15 Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Leaders (thru 2-12-24)

Just FYI – 40 points

Gin Gin – 26 points

West Omaha – 25 points

Band of Gold – 21 points

Power Squeeze – 20 points

R Harper Rose – 20 points

Kopion – 20 points

Candied – 19 points 

Life Talk  – 19 points

V V’s Dream – 18 points

Jody’s Pride – 15 points

Chatalas – 13 points

Shimmering Allure – 13 points

Scalable – 12 points

Intricate – 10 points

Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2024 Contenders (2-12-24)

#1 – INTRICATE (Gun Runner – Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh

Comments: Last year’s Golden Rod (G2) winner has worked five times at Fair Grounds this year. She breezed a half-mile in 48.40 (16/119) on Feb. 10 and has been entered in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) on Feb. 17. Her trainer Brendan Walsh won the 2023 Rachel Alexandra with Pretty Mischievous, and that filly would go on to win the Kentucky Oaks.  

#2 – JUST F Y I (Justify – Star Act, by Street Cry) – Trainer: Bill Mott

Comments: The 2-year-old filly champ went 3-for-3 last year. She ended her juvenile season with a win in the BC Juvenile Fillies and is spending the winter in Florida. She has breezed four times at Payson Park in 2024 including a half-mile bullet in 48.60 (1/56) on Feb. 10. 

#3 – ALPINE PRINCESS (Classic Empire – Le Moine, by Curlin) – Trainer: Brad Cox

Comments: Captured her final two starts last year including a wire-to-wire victory in the Untapable Stakes on Dec. 23. She has worked four times since her last start including a half-mile breeze at Fair Grounds on Feb. 10. She is entered in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Feb. 17. 

#4 – WEST OMAHA (West Coast – Birthday Bash, by Medaglia d’Oro) – Trainer: Brad Cox

Comments: Began her career in back-to-back seven panel races at Churchill last year, and she easily graduated second time out. She stretched out and was second best in the Untapable, and stalked and easily scored in the Silverbulletday on Jan. 20. She worked at Fair Grounds on Feb. 2 and Feb. 10, and goes next in the Rachel Alexandra. 

#5 – KOPION (Omaha Beach – Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) – Trainer: Richard Mandella 

Comments: She was visually impressive in her sprint debut and was even better in the Santa Ynez (G3) second time out. She tried a flat mile in the Las Virgenes (G3) on Feb. 10, and she chased Kinza all the way around the track in a respectable runner-up finish. She did enough in the Las Virgenes to remain on my list.