Kentucky Derby News
Kentucky Oaks 2024 Update (3-25-24)
By Jarrod Horak
The Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks and non-graded Bourbonette Oaks were the latest road to Kentucky Oaks 2024 points races. In this report, I will look back at those events and update my “Fabulous 5” Oaks contenders. The Gulfstream Park Oaks and Fantasy Stakes are the next points races on Saturday, March 30.
My longtime top ranked Oaks contender Intricate stalked wide and came up empty in a very disappointing effort in the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 23. She drops out of my top five.
Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Race Recaps
Fair Grounds Oaks (3-23-24)
Fractions: 23.84, 47.93, 1;12.42, 1:36.79, 1;43.24
Top 5 Finishers: Tarifa, Our Pretty Woman, V V’s Dream, Accommodate Eva, Intricate
Our Pretty Woman was the main speed on paper and she got clear early as expected. Tarifa was the 3-2 favorite and she overcame some early trouble to track the pace from second under Flavien Prat. The latter hooked up with Steve Asmussen’s front runner and they battled for the length of the stretch. Tarifa had outside position and gradually wore down Our Pretty Woman to score by a bit less than a length. Our Pretty Woman was 3 1/4 lengths clear of show finisher V V’s Dream. Ken McPeek’s filly saved ground stalking the pace and was 5 3/4 lengths in front of Louisiana-bred stakes winner Accommodate Eva. Intricate stalked outside and had nothing to offer in the stretch, and 52-1 outsider Midsummer March chased the pace and faded to finish far behind the others.
Bourbonette Oaks (3-23-24)
Fractions: 23.90, 47.98, 1:12.70, 1:38.22, 1:44.36
Top 5 Finishers: Everland, Winnable, Alpine Princess, Youknownothing, Movin’ On Up
Everland was best from the outside post in this 10-horse route race on all-weather ground. The 11-1 winner sat in midpack, waited for running room, and pushed clear to score by a length and a quarter for Abel Cedillo and Eric Foster. Winnable stalked, led, and held the place by a half-length over Alpine Princess. Youknownothing and Movin’ On Up rallied to finished fourth and fifth, and Band of Gold, Trial, Maxisuperfly, Saratoga Secret, and beaten favorite Pink Polkadots also ran.
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 – Everland ($24.10)
Upcoming Races:
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 3-25-24)
Tarifa 150 points
Jody’s Pride 65 points
Fiona’s Magic 60 points
Everland 54 points
Lemon Muffin 50 points
Our Pretty Woman 50 points
V V’s Dream 48 points
Intricate 45 points
Gin Gin 41 points
Just FYI 40 points
West Omaha 40 points
Alpine Princess 35 points
Tapit Jenallie 29 points
Into Champagne 25 points
Perfect Shot 25 points
Where’s My Ring 25 points
Carmelina 25 points
Band of Gold 21 points
She’s a Tempest 21 points
Power Squeeze 20 points
Recharge 20 points
Maxisuperfly 20 points
Kopion 20 points
Candied 19 points
Life Talk 19 points
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2024 Contenders (3-25-24)
#1 – TARIFA (Bernardini – Kite Beach, by Awesome Again) – Trainer: Brad Cox
Comments: She deserves top billing after back-to-back Grade 2 wins in the Rachel Alexandra and FG Oaks. Her tactical speed leads to comfortable trips and Flavien Prat rode her perfectly in her last two victories. She is getting good at the right time.
#2 – KOPION (Omaha Beach – Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) – Trainer: Richard Mandella
Comments: The Grade 3 Santa Ynez winner has been targeting the April 6 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) for several weeks. She has worked four times since her runner-up finish in the Las Virgenes (G3) on Feb. 10. She fired back-to-back 6f bullets on March 10 and March 18, and traveled six panels in 1:13.20 (3/3) on March 25.
#3 – JUST F Y I (Justify – Star Act, by Street Cry) – Trainer: Bill Mott
Comments: A fever knocked her out of the Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park on March 2. She breezed six times at Payson Park from Jan. 29 through Feb. 24, missed three weeks due to an elevated temperature, and returned to the worktab with a half-mile bullet in 47.60 (1/12) on March 18. Her lone Kentucky Oaks prep will come in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 5.
#4 – 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). She has worked twice at Oaklawn since her last start including a 5f move in 1:01.20 (10/34) on March 24. She is entered in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes on March 30.
#5 – OUR PRETTY WOMAN (Medaglia d’Oro – Dazzletown, by Speightstown) – Trainer: Steve Asmssen
Comments: She scored in the slop twice to begin her career. The FG Oaks was her stakes debut, and she set the pace and was clearly second best. Steve Asmussen’s improving filly might be a dangerous player in the Kentucky Oaks if she can get out there and control the pace.