Kentucky Oaks 2024 Update (1-24-24)

Churchill Downs grandstand photo by Stacy Edwards

By Jarrod Horak

The Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds was the latest road to Kentucky Oaks 2024 points race, and West Omaha stalked the pace and rolled to a sharp win, and picked up 20 points for trainer Brad Cox. In this article, I will look back at the Silverbulletday and update my “Fabulous 5” Oaks contenders.

In other Kentucky Oaks news, the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn was supposed to be run on Jan. 27, but poor weather pushed that Oaks prep back a week to Feb. 3. The Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park is also scheduled for Feb. 3, and the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita will be run on Feb. 4. 

Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Race Recaps

Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds (1-20-24)

Fractions – 24.63, 48.84, 1:13.70, 1:39.41, 1:43.80

Top 5 Finishers: West Omaha, Perfect Shot, Sistina Chapel, Miss Code West, Accommodate Eva

Six fillies competed in this Oaks prep at Fair Grounds. Accommodate Eva made the lead from post 2 and was pressured by Miss Code West. Perfect Shot stalked from the inside post and my top choice West Omaha stalked outside while out in the clear. West Omaha moved up under Luis Saez, and she struck the front, opened up by a length and a half, and widened in the lane to score by 5 lengths. Perfect Shot found her best stride in the lane and ended up a clear 2nd, and Sistina Chapel nipped Miss Code West for the show. Accommodate Eva weakened to 5th and Noriskit Nobiscuit trailed throughout. West Omaha has been on my Oaks list all along, and she continues to develop for Brad Cox. 

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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)

Upcoming Races:

Martha Washington (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 3  

Forward Gal (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 3 

Las Virgenes (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 4

Suncoast (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 10 

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 20 Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Leaders (thru 1-24-24)

Just FYI – 40 points

Gin Gin – 26

West Omaha – 25

Candied – 19 

Life Talk  – 19

V V’s Dream – 18

Jody’s Pride – 15

Chatalas – 13

Shimmering Allure – 13

Intricate – 10

West Sunset – 10

Alpine Princess – 10

Kopion – 10

Perfect Shot – 10

Princess Mayfair – 10

Sistina Chapel – 9

Central Avenue – 8

Scalable  – 8

Most of All – 6

Youalmosthadme – 5

Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2024 Contenders (1-24-24)

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

Comments: She stretched out and cruised to an easy victory at Churchill Downs second time out, and stalked and pounced in a 5 1/4 length tally in the Golden Rod (G2) in her final start as a juvenile. She is spending the winter in New Orleans and has worked twice this month. Her most recent move was an easy half-mile breeze in 50.20 on Jan. 20. She is targeting the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) on Feb. 17. 

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

Comments: Bill Mott’s filly was a perfect 3-for-3 in 2023. She won the Grade 1 Frizette and BC Juvenile Fillies in her last two outings. She is spending the winter at Payson Park Training Center in Florida, and had her first workout of the year on Jan. 15 (3f in 37.20).  

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

Comments: After dominating her 6 1/2 furlong debut at Del Mar on Nov. 26, she made her stakes bow in the Santa Ynez (G3) on Jan. 7, and she crushed three overmatched foes in that seven panel sprint at Santa Anita. Her first workout since the Santa Ynez was a 3f move in 36.20 (3/21) at Santa Anita on Jan. 19. The Las Virgenes (G3) at one mile on Feb. 4 is her next target.   

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

Comments: Followed up a clear runner-up finish in the Untapable with a decisive score in the Silverbuletday. She fired exacta shots in all four starts, and the next logical placement for this improving filly is the Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17.    

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

Comments: Her juvenile form was sharp. She was impressive in her first two starts around one-turn. The Golden Rod (G2) was her first attempt over a route of ground, and she stalked and landed the place behind Intricate. She was returning in two weeks when she ran in the Golden Rod, and has not had a published workout since that race. If she does not show morning activity before my next update, she will drop off my list.