Kentucky Oaks 2024 Update (4-15-24)

By Jarrod Horak

All of the Kentucky Oaks 2024 points races have been run, and now the attention turns to final workouts. In this report, I will check out the latest Oaks news and update my “Fabulous 5” Oaks contenders. 

Into Champagne is possible for the Kentucky Oaks and Eight Belles on May 3, according to her trainer Ian Wilkes. The Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks show finisher breezed a half-mile in 48.20 (29/123) at Churchill Downs on April 13. 

Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up Ways and Means breezed a half-mile in 49.20 (6/58) at Payson Park on April 13. The GP Oaks was her first start in half a year, and she raced wide and was probably best that day. 

Power Squeeze won the Gulfstream Park Oaks by a length, and that was her fourth consecutive victory. She breezed five panels in 1:01.13 (5/22) at Gulfstream on April 13. She has a long negative streak to overcome. The last GP Oaks winner to take the Kentucky Oaks was Dispute in 1993.  

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)

Rachel Alexandra (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 17 – Winner: Tarifa ($7.00)

Sunland Park Oaks (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 18 – Winner: Recharge ($6.60)

UAE Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 23 – Winner: Manama Gold ($2.20)

Honeybee (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 24 – Winner: Lemon Muffin ($58.20)

Cincinnati Trophy (20-10-6-4-2) – March 1 – Winner: Maxisuperfly ($48.36)

Busher (50-25-15-10-5) – March 2 – Winner: Jody’s Pride ($3.90)

Davona Dale (50-25-15-10-5) – March 2 – Winner: Fiona’s Magic ($20.20)

Santa Ysabel (50-25-15-10-5) – March 9 – Winner: Kinza ($3.00)

FG Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 23 – Winner: Tarifa ($5.00)

Bourbonette Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – March 23 – Winner: Everland ($24.10)

GP Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 30 – Winner: Power Squeeze ($24.00)

Fantasy (100-50-25-15-10) – March 30 – Winner: Thorpedo Anna ($7.40)

Ashland (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5 – Winner: Leslie’s Rose ($20.90)

Gazelle (100-50-25-15-10) – April 6 – Where’s My Ring ($7.10)

SA Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – April 6 – Nothing Like You ($16.40)

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Top 18 Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Leaders (thru 4-15-24)

Tarifa – 150 points

Where’s My Ring – 125 points

Power Squeeze – 120 points

Leslie’s Rose – 115 points

Thorpedo Anna – 105 points

Just F Y I – 90 points

Gin Gin – 66 points

Fiona’s Magic – 60 points

Tapit Jenallie – 54 points

Everland – 54 points

Lemon Muffin – 50 points

Into Champagne – 50 points

Ways and Means – 50 points

Our Pretty Woman – 50 points

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Candied – 34 points

Recharge – 30 points

Whocouldaskformo – 30 points

Impel –  25 points

Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2024 Contenders (4-15-24)

#1 – TARIFA (Bernardini – Kite Beach, by Awesome Again) – Trainer: Brad Cox

Comments: This filly has plenty going for her. She won her last three starts including the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and FG Oaks (G2). Her tactical speed leads to good trips and Brad Cox has won the Oaks twice (Monomoy Girl, Shedaresthedevil), and owner Godolphin captured the 2023 Oaks with Pretty Mischievous. She breezed a half-mile in 49.20 (24/65) at Churchill on April 5, and traveled four panels in 48.80 (37/123) on April 13. 

#2 – LESLIE’S ROSE  (Into Mischief – Wildwood Rose-IRE, by Galileo-IRE) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Comments: The Grade 1 Ashland was a big forward move for this one. That was her first start around two turns, and she stalked inside, hit the front in the lane, and edged clear to score by three lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd Pletcher’s $1.15 million filly is heading into the Oaks the right way. 

#3 – THORPEDO ANNA (Fast Anna, Sataves, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Ken McPeek

Comments: I was a fan of this filly last year. She was sharp in her first two starts around one turn. She stretched out in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill last fall. I made her my top choice that day but she was not match for Intricate. In her defense, she was returning in two weeks and finished a respectable second. I dropped her off my Oaks list earlier this year due to inactivity, and did not pick her when she returned in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn on March 30. She overcame post 10 and a layoff of more than four months, and she stalked outside and smartly scored by four lengths. She got back to work with a half-mile move in 48.20 (24/123) at Churchill on April 13.   

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

Comments: The juvenile filly champ won all three starts in 2023 including back-to-back Grade 1’s (Frizette, BC Juvenile Fillies). She was going to be my top pick in the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream on March 2, but she came down with a fever and scratched. Bill Mott got her healthy again and targeted the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 5. She stalked outside and landed the place in that needed race, and should be fitter in the Oaks. 

#5 – OUR PRETTY WOMAN (Medaglia d’Oro – Dazzletown, by Speightstown) – Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Comments: This one seems to be flying under the radar for Steve Asmussen. She captured her first two starts at Fair Grounds, and set the pace and was second best to Tarifa in the FG Oaks. She breezed 5f in 1:02 (9/19) under the Twin Spires on April 7, and went 5f in 1:03.20 (31/32) on April 14. I expect her to try to wire the field in the Oaks.