Kentucky Oaks Prediction, Preview, and Odds (May 3)

• Huge weekend of racing at Churchill Downs kicks off with the Kentucky Oaks on Friday
• This race will cover a distance of 1 1/8 miles

Excitement levels will be building at Churchill Downs ahead of the 150^th Kentucky Derby on Saturday. However, the fillies will take to the track on Friday to compete in the Kentucky Oaks. But, which filly will win the prestigious race in Louisville this weekend?

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How To Watch

• When: Saturday, May 3, 2024, at 5:51 p.m ET
• Where: Churchill Downs, Kentucky, Louisville
• How To Watch: NBC

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Odds

Horse	Odds
Tarifa	+300
Just F Y I	+500
Leslie’s Rose	+500
Thorpedo Anne	+700
Ways and Means	+700
Power Squeeze	+800
Our Pretty Woman	+1400
Where’s My Ring	+1400

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Match Preview

A traditionally wide-open renewal of the Kentucky Oaks is set for this Friday, as fillies aged three will compete at Churchill Downs. This race has been staged annually since 1875, with the field competing over a distance of 1 1/8 miles in Louisville. A purse of $1.25 million will be put aside for this race on Friday, and there is no shortage of leading contenders.

Tarifa will be looking to give Brad Cox a third victory in the race, and it could be hard to overlook her clear chances after winning four from five career starts. She was excellent when landing the G2 Fair Ground Oaks on her previous start, holding off Our Pretty Woman by just under a length. However, her Churchill Downs form would be a concern after she could only finish fourth over a mile at the track in late November.

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Post Positions for the 150th Longines Kentucky Oaks pic.twitter.com/zNri0yl3RF

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 27, 2024

Just F Y I was one of the standout two-year-olds in the U.S. last season, ending her campaign by landing success in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. She made her return to the track when staying on for second in the G1 Ashland Stakes behind Leslie’s Rose. We expect that form to be reversed at Churchill Downs this weekend, but a second start after a quick turnaround is a concern.

Leslie’s Rose was a commanding winner of the Ashland Stakes for Todd Pletcher, and there could be further improvement from this runner over an extended distance. Ways And Means and Power Squeeze are both closely matched on the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks form, with the latter finishing a length clear. Neither will likely be that far away this weekend.

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Kentucky Oaks Prediction

The top two in the betting will be solid exotic plays this weekend, but Steven Asmussen could have a sound win contender in the form of Our Pretty Woman. She was excellent at the start of the year when winning over a mile and a furlong, before staying on well to challenge Tarifa in the G2 Fair Ground Oaks. She looks one that is more than capable of progression over this extended trip at Churchill Downs.

Free Pick:

• Win: Our Pretty Woman
• Trifecta Box: Our Pretty Woman/ Tarifa/ Just F Y I/ Candied