Kentucky Oaks 2024 Update (3-11-24)

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita Park on March 9 was the latest road to Kentucky Oaks 2024 points race. In this report, I will look back at that event and update my “Fabulous 5” Oaks contenders. The Oaks points race chase takes a week off and will resume with the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park and the Fair Grounds Oaks at Fair Grounds Race Course on Saturday, March 23. 

Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Race Recaps

Santa Ysabel (3-9-24)

Fractions: 22.54, 45.98, 1:10.55, 1:37.34, 1:44.16 

Top 5 Finishers: Kinza, Where’s My Ring, She’s a Tempest, Ultimate Authority, Shiloh’s Mistress

Kinza was too strong for this group. Bob Baffert’s filly won her first two starts on the front end, and she scooted straight to the front and dominated this 1 1/6 miles affair. She widened throughout and was five lengths to the good at the end. Maiden Where’s My Ring stalked wide and landed the place, and She’s a Tempest was best of the rest in third. My value top choice Unlimited Authority made a mild wide bid and ended up an even fourth under Flavien Prat. The final time was 1:44.16. This was a Kentucky Oaks 2024 points race but Kinza was not eligible to earn points due to Bob Baffert’s ongoing Churchill Downs ban. 

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)

Upcoming Races:

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 25 Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Leaders (thru 3-11-24)

Jody’s Pride – 65 points

Fiona’s Magic – 60 points

Lemon Muffin – 50 points

Tarifa – 50 points

Gin Gin – 41 points

Just FYI – 40 points

West Omaha – 40 points

Intricate – 35 points

Tapit Jenallie – 29 points

Carmelina – 25 points

Into Champagne – 25 points

Perfect Shot  – 25 points

Where’s My Ring – 25 points

V V’s Dream – 23 points

Band of Gold – 21 points

She’s a Tempest  – 21 points

Power Squeeze – 20 points

Recharge – 20 points

Maxisuperfly – 20 points

R Harper Rose – 20 points

Kopion – 20 points

Alpine Princess – 20 points

Candied – 19 points

Life Talk – 19 points

Neom Beach – 16 points

Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2024 Contenders (3-11-24)

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

Comments: She can move up after rallying for the place in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) on Feb. 17. She has worked twice since that race. The Gun Runner filly breezed a half-mile in 48 (3/95) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 29, and had an almost identical work in 48 flat (2/73) on March 8 (strong gallop out). The Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 23 is next. 

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

Comments: She sat the right stalking trip under Flavien Prat and got the jump on Intricate in Rachel Alexandra (G2). That was her stakes debut and she seems to be on the upswing. She breezed a half-mile in 49.80 (37/75) on March 3, and traveled a half-mile in 49 (12/41) on March 9. The FG Oaks is a logical target.

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

Comments: Kinza was too fleet for her in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes on Feb. 10, and that filly was even more impressive in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel on March 9. Mandella kept this one out of the Santa Ysabel and decided to freshen her up and target the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) on April 6. She fired a 6f bullet in 1:11.80 (1/9) on March 10. 

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

Comments: The 2-year-old filly champ came down with a fever and had to miss an intended start the Davona Dale on March 2. Bill Mott still hopes to make the Kentucky Oaks but her preparation this year is less than ideal. If all goes according to plan, she will run next in the GP Oaks (March 30), Fantasy (March 30), or Ashland (April 5). Her last published work was a 5f breeze in 1:02.20 (5/7) at Payson Park on Feb. 24. That was prior to her fever, so will will have to see how long it takes her to get back on the worktab.  

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

Comments: She was second in the Untapable, first in the Silverbulletday, and third in the Honeybee (G3). Her Honeybee journey on Feb. 24 was not ideal, and there is every reason to believe that she can have a better showing next time. She has yet to return to the worktab since her last start.