Kentucky Oaks 2024 Update (2-19-24)

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes and Sunland Park Oaks 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 UAE Oaks (Feb. 23) and Honeybee (Feb. 24) are the next Kentucky Oaks points races. 

Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Race Recaps

Rachel Alexandra (2-17-14) 

Fractions – 24.37, 48.55, 1:13.05, 1:38.70, 1:45.28

Top 5 Finishers: Tarifa, Intricate, Perfect Shot, Alpine Princess, V V’s Dream

Tarifa got the right trip in this 1 1/16 miles affair in the slop. She stalked from the inside post behind Perfect Shot and Alpine Princess. She moved out in the stretch under Flavien Prat, and got the jump on closing favorite Intricate and scored by 2 3/4 lengths. My top choice Intricate was making her first start since winning the Golden Rod last fall, and she sat back in last and closed nicely in the lane to finish a clear second under Tyler Gaffalione. Perfect Shot was best of the rest in third. Tarifa picked up 50 points for winning this race and is all but assured a place in the Kentucky Oaks starting gate. The top finishers in this race will probably meet again in the FG Oaks on March 23.  

Sunland Park Oaks (2-18-24)

Fractions: 24.09, 48.39, 1:12.61, 1:24.96, 1:37.27

Top 5 Finishers: Recharge, Candy Aisle, Simply Enchanting, Methods, Raspberry Wine

Recharge ran her record to 3-for-3 for Steve Asmussen. She went straight to the front from post 4 under Joel Rosario, turned away stalking favorite Simply Enchanting, and held off late runner Candy Aisle to win by a neck. The latter made a menacing bid but could not go past the front running winner. She was 4 lengths clear of show finisher Simply Enchanting. The top finishers in this race appear to be a cut or two below the leading runners in this division.   

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)

Upcoming Races:

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 2-19-24)

Tarifa – 50 points

Just FYI – 40 points

Intricate – 35 points

Gin Gin – 26 points

West Omaha – 25 points

Perfect Shot  – 25 points

V V’s Dream – 23 points

Band of Gold – 21 points

Power Squeeze – 20 points

Recharge – 20 points

R Harper Rose – 20 points

Kopion – 20 points

Alpine Princess – 20 points

Candied – 19 points

Life Talk  – 19 points

Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2024 Contenders (2-19-24)

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

Comments: I am keeping the Golden Rod (G2) winner on top after a clear runner-up finish in her Rachel Alexandra (G2) return on Feb. 17. She finished with interest at Fair Grounds and caught winner Tarifa on the gallop out. If she comes out of that race in good order, she will most likely move on to the FG Oaks (G2) on March 23. 

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

Comments: The 2023 BC Juvenile Fillies winner has breezed five times at Payson Park this winter. She most recently went 5f in 1:03.60 (5/8) on Feb. 17. The next Kentucky Oaks points race in Florida is the Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 2, and Bill Mott probably has that race on his radar screen. 

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

Comments: Brad Cox’s filly stalked the pace and easily scored in the Silverbulletday on Jan. 20.  She scratched out of the Feb. 17 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), and worked a half-mile in 49.40 (29/60) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 18. Her stablemate Tarifa won the Rachel Alexandra, and this one is entered in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 24.   

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

Comments: The Grade 3 Santa Ynez winner could not catch Kinza in the Las Virgenes (G3) on Feb. 10. The next Kentucky Oaks points race at Santa Anita is the Santa Ysabel on March 3, followed by the SA Oaks on April 6. Those are logical targets for Richard Mandella’s promising filly. 

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

Comments: This improving Godolphin filly replaces her stablemate Alpine Princess on my list. She won her Keeneland bow last fall and disappointed at Churchill second time out. In a pair of 2024 starts at Fair Grounds, she won an optional-claiming route on Jan. 20, and stalked, pounced, and scored in the Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 17. The FG Oaks (G2) on March 23 might be her next target.