Kentucky Oaks
- Date:Â Saturday, May 3, 2024
- City: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Location: Churchill Downs
- Pursue: US$1.5 million
- 2024 Winner: Thorpedo Anna
The Kentucky Oaks is the premier race for 3-year-old fillies. It’s held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, which makes it a must-see race.
Worth $1.25 million, it has one of the biggest stakes for an age-group race in the world and it has been won by many champions of the turf, including Rachel Alexandra, Rags to Riches and more recently Secret Oath.
Kentucky Oaks entries and odds come out in the months leading up to the race, which is held in May.
KENTUCKY OAKS ODDS & ANALYSIS​
Kentucky Oaks odds are based on a variety of horse racing factors, including form, history, trainer, and jockey. However, it largely depends on what bookmakers are willing to risk on certain runners.
There is usually a warm favorite with Kentucky Oaks odds. We often see one runner picked out to win and they have been racing well against the boys, which is always a good form guide.
Lead-up races play a big part in how the Oaks markets work. Runners with the best form in big races are always best-backed, so look for runners with form already on the board, especially against male opposition.
Bookmakers set the opening horse racing odds based on their calculations but it’s the public money that sees odds fluctuations. Kentucky Oaks odds can change drastically leading up to the race, especially if there is stable money coming for a runner.
HOW TO BET ON KENTUCKY OAKS?
There are many ways to win on the Kentucky Oaks and bookmakers always offer specials for the Friday feature.
The most popular bet type is an outright-win bet. Bettors have to correctly predict which horse crosses the line first and Kentucky Oaks odds are always favorable. There is excellent value available in Oaks markets and it’s one of the more popular betting Grade I betting races
Exotic bets are popular, including quinella, exacta, trifecta and first-four wagers. There is always plenty of attention on Kentucky Oaks odds, so the pools are big and that often results in big payouts, but typically bettors identify one runner and go with that.
Betting on horses that have performed well in the lead-up races is one of many Kentucky Oaks betting tips. Form is key for this race, so backing runners under +1000 is always a good option.
Kentucky Oaks Betting Trends
Betting trends play a big factor in Kentucky Oaks odds. Bettors can find many different betting trends to suit their wager
If your desired runner hasn’t won in the last 180 days, don’t bother backing it. No Kentucky Oaks winner has gone winless for that period in the lead-up, so the form is important for this Churchill Downs feature.
Four Oaks winners have won at Keeneland in their last start and there only two favorites have won in the last 10 editions. Therefore, it could pay to bet outside the favorite with Kentucky Oaks odds.
D. Wayne Lukas has trained five winners, including the 2022 winner Secret Oath. The biggest winning margin came with Rachel Alexandra, who won by 20¼ lengths, so picking out the star thoroughbreds is a good Oaks betting strategy.Â
KENTUCKY OAKS HISTORY​
The first running of the Kentucky Oaks was in 1875, so it has been around for a long time and it was founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr.
It was modeled after the Epsom Oaks in England, much like the Derby. There are usually around 100,000 fans in attendance at the races, which is influenced by the terrific Kentucky Oaks odds available.
It’s a part of a fillies Triple Crown, including the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Acorn Stakes. It’s not as popular as the male version but it adds more intrigue.
| Date | WINNER |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Pretty Mischievous |
| 2022 | Secret Oath |
| 2021 | Malathaat |
| 2020 | Shedaresthedevil |
| 2019 | Serengeti Empress |
| 2018 | Monomoy Girl |
| 2017 | Abel Tasman |
| 2016 | Cathryn Sophia |
