Kentucky Oaks 2024 Update (2-5-24)

By Jarrod Horak

The Forward Gal and Martha Washington Stakes 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  Las Virgenes at Santa Anita was originally scheduled for Feb. 4, but rainy weather pushed that race back to Feb. 10.

In other Kentucky Oaks news, Thorpedo Anna drops off my list due to inactivity. Ken McPeek’s filly won her first two starts last year, and stretched out and landed the place in the Golden Rod (G2) when last seen in November. She has no published workouts since that race. 

Chad Brown’s highly regarded filly Ways and Means was sensational in her Saratoga bow last summer, and finished a troubled 2nd behind Brightwork when last seen in the Grade 1 Spinaway. She clipped heels in the latter race and chipped her right ankle. It looks like she has finally recovered after returning to the worktab on Feb. 4 (easy 3f in 38.80). I had every intention of putting her on my Oaks list last year but did not know when should would be returning. Her plans are unknown at this time. She probably needs up to five more works before targeting a race sometime in March at the earliest.  

Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Race Recaps

Forward Gal (2-3-24)

Fractions – 22.63, 45.90, 1:10.86, 1:24.34

Top 5 Finishers: R Harper Rose, Fiona’s Magic, Chi Chi, Scalable, Nikitis

Kissedbyanangel scratched and that brought the field down to six runners. Fiona’s Magic set the pace and R Harper Rose pressed from 2nd. The latter had outside position and edged clear in the lane to score by 2 lengths. Fiona’s Magic was second best and Chi Chi stalked the pace and completed the trifecta. Scalable was last early, made a middle move, and flattened out. Nikitis never got seriously involved and Witwatersrand briefly chased from the outside post and steadily faded. This was her first dirt try and she did not handle the footing. R Harper Rose is a quality sprinter and she will try to stretch out again in the near future. She set the pace and was clearly second best in the Florida Sire My Dear Girl in her lone route attempt late last year.  

Martha Washington (2-3-24)

Fractions – 23.67, 47.71, 1:12.53, 1:38.77, 1:45.16

Top 5 Finishers: Band of Gold, Denim and Pearls, Neom Beach, Tapit Jenallie, Promisemeanempire 

Denim and Pearls was the even money favorite and she looked solid on paper. The chalk settled into a nice outside stalking spot behind inside speed Tapit Jenallie and Neom Beach. Denim and Pearls made her move and grabbed a short lead and briefly looked like she might prevail, but the race was far from over. Band of Gold was lurking in midpack under Brian Hernandez Jr., and she moved out in the stretch and found her best stride late to win by 2 3/4 lengths as a 24-1 longshot. Denim and Pearls won the battle for the place by a neck over Neom Beach, and Tapit Jenallie was another half-length back in 4th. This race was run on a sloppy, sealed track, and that makes it hard to get a true gauge on the overall strength of this event. 

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)

Upcoming Races:

Las Virgenes (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 10

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 2-4-24)

Just FYI – 40 points

Gin Gin – 26 points

West Omaha – 25 points

Band of Gold – 21 points

R Harper Rose – 20 points

Candied, Life Talk – 19 points  

V V’s Dream – 18 points

Jody’s Pride – 15 points

Chatalas, Shimmering Allure – 13 points

Scalable – 12 points

Intricate – 10 points

West Sunset – 10 points

Denim and Pearls – 10 points

Alpine Princess – 10 points

Kopion – 10 points

Fiona’s Magic – 10 points

Perfect Shot – 10 points

Princess Mayfair – 10 points

Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2024 Contenders (2-4-24)

#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 four times this year. Her most recent move was a 5f breeze in 1:00.20 (2/34) on Feb. 3. 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 and recently won the Eclipse Award for outstanding 2-year-old filly. 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 has worked three times this year. Her most recent move was a half-mile breeze in 49.40 (3/28) on Feb. 4.  

#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. She has worked twice since the Santa Ynez including a 5f move in 59.60 (4/81) at Santa Anita on Jan. 27. The Las Virgenes (G3) at one mile on Feb. 10 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 got back to work with a half-mile breeze in 49.60 (36/74) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 2. The next logical placement for this improving filly is the Rachel Alexandra Stakes.    

#5 – ALPINE PRINCESS (Classic Empire – Le Moine, by Curlin) – Trainer: Brad Cox

Comments: My newest top five member is gearing up for a possible start in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Her victory in the Untapable Stakes on Dec. 23 looks better now after subsequent results. Untapable runner-up West Omaha returned to win the Silverbulletday, and Untapable also-ran Band of Gold won the Martha Washington at Oaklawn on Feb. 3. This one shows three works at Fair Grounds in 2024 including a 5f breeze in 1:01.20 (10/34) on Feb. 3.