Kentucky Oaks 2023 Picks, Odds, and Preview (May 5)

• The ‘Lillies for the Fillies’ kicks off Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs
• Fillies aged three will compete in the Kentucky Oaks, worth $1.25 million

The first weekend in May at Churchill Downs may be all about the Kentucky Derby, but it’s the fillies that we will see in action first at the iconic track. The Kentucky Oaks 2023 will be staged on Friday, May 5, and it promises to be an ultra-competitive renewal of the race.

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Schedule and How To Watch

• When: Friday, May 5, 2023
• Where: Churchill Downs, Kentucky   
• Distance: 1 1/8 miles
• Grade: Grade 1
• Purse: $1.75 Million
• How To Watch: NBC

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Kentucky Oaks 2023 Odds

Horse	Odds
Wet Paint
Botanical
Southlawn
Affirmative Lady
Pretty Mischievous
Promiserher America
Gambling Girl
Defining Purpose
Wonder Wheel
Other Selections	+1800 and Bigger

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Race Preview

The action on the first May weekend at Churchill Downs gets underway on Friday, with the Kentucky Oaks. Fillies aged three will be competing for the illustrious honour, which was won in 2022 by D. Wayne Lukas’s Secret Oath. However, it could be argued that this year’s renewal is a much more open affair.

Godolphin-owned Wet Paint heads the betting for Brad Cox after enjoying a fault-less campaign to this point. The three-year-old looked incredible once again when landing the G3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn in early April, beating Taxed by over two lengths.

Wet Paint does not mind the wet conditions!

She made a scintillating late run for trainer @bradcoxracing & @godolphin, to pick up 50 points with her G3 Honeybee victory on her Road to the #KyOaks

🎥 @TwinSpirespic.twitter.com/4rWO4cg5D9

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) February 25, 2023

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However, this is a considerable step up in opposition for the Cox-trained runner. Cox is double-handed at the top of the betting for the Oaks, with Botanical also looking a very reliable contender. The three-year-old has won two stakes races this year, with her victory in the Bourbonette Oaks landed an Equibase rating of 112.

Affirmative Lady is a runner for Graham Motion that could be open to further progress, but she has something to find on figures. She was the winner of the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, reaching a rating of 87. That was a career-best effort, but more will be needed once again at Churchill Downs.

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Kentucky Oaks 2023 Picks

The G2 Fair Grounds Oaks could be a key form line to follow with the Oaks in mind, and I would expect Southlawn and Pretty Mischievous to both be among the first two home.

However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that form reversed, with the latter continuing her progression after landing the G2 Rachel Alexandra earlier in the campaign. She has already won twice from three starts at Churchill Downs. Wonder Wheel could also bounce back to form after a disappointing effort in the G1 Ashland on her previous start.

Kentucky Oaks Picks:

• Exacta Box: Pretty Mischievous/ Southlawn/ Wonder Wheel