Tag: Kentucky Oaks

The draw of nine fillies competing for the most prestigious title for 3-year-old fillies -- the Kentucky Oaks. (Image: Churchill Downs)

Gamine, Swiss Skydiver Finally Meet as Kentucky Oaks Favorites

- 4 min read

Gamine has been an unstoppable force. Swiss Skydiver, the prototypical immovable object. That prompts the inevitable question surrounding Friday’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs: Who will prevail and emerge as the best 3-year-old filly in America? The unstoppable force that is even-money Gamine? Or the immovable object that […]

John Velazquez will ride even money favorite Gamine in Saturday's Kentucky Oaks. (Image: Alton Strupp/Louisville Courier Journal)

Gamine Takes Even Money Favored Status In Kentucky Oaks

- 2 min read

At even-money, Gamine enters Friday’s Kentucky Oaks as the shortest-priced favorite in 11 years, where she looms large over the smallest Oaks field in 15 years. Gamine starts the 146th running of the prestigious 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies from post 5 in the nine-horse field, drawn Monday afternoon […]

Venetian Harbor and Flavien Prat won February's Las Virgenes Stakes by 9 1/4 lengths. She has three runner-up finishes since and the one-time Kentucky Oaks favorite is skipping that race. (Image: Benoit Photo)

One-Time Favorite Venetian Harbor Won’t Dock at Kentucky Oaks

- 3 min read

Earlier this spring, Venetian Harbor was the 9/2 futures book favorite to win the Kentucky Oaks. But in an example of how a September Oaks/Derby can negatively affect a horse, the 3-year-old filly will sit out next week’s Oaks. Instead, Venetian Harbor’s trainer, Richard Baltas, is setting his sights on […]

Monomoy Girl makes racing look so effortless, that she seems to glide through the air. The 5-year-old mare goes for her third 2020 victory in the Sept. 4 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs. (Image: Michael Reaves/Getty)

Kentucky Oaks Card Comes Loaded with Big Names, Great Resumes

- 3 min read

If the clash of the filly titans at the Kentucky Oaks isn’t enough to grab your attention, then consider this; this year’s card is in serious danger of upstaging Churchill Downs’ Derby Week. And that’s including the marquee event of Derby Week, the 146th Kentucky Derby. It’s OK to pay […]

Mike Smith and his fellow jockeys aren't smiling about Churchill Downs' mandate they give up two weeks of rides to ride in the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks. (Image: Julio Cortez/Associated Press)

Churchill Downs Orders Derby, Oaks Jockeys to Kentucky by August 24

- 4 min read

In their latest response to the coronavirus pandemic, Churchill Downs officials issued a mandate on Monday to jockeys at both the Saratoga and Del Mar colonies. They need to be in Kentucky no later than Aug. 24 if they want to ride in the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks. That’s […]

Mike Smith and Swiss Skydiver rolled to such an easy victory in June's Santa Anita Oaks that her connections may send her into Saturday's Blue Grass Stakes against the boys. (Image: AP Photo)

Swiss Skydiver Looking to Leap into Blue Grass Stakes

- 2 min read

Will Swiss Skydiver run with the boys? Will the talented filly who doesn’t need Kentucky Oaks points enter Saturday’s Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland – a Kentucky Derby prep? Or will Swiss Skydiver enter the Grade 1 Ashland Oaks and tangle with her usual fellow filly suspects? These […]

Swiss Skydiver jumped into center stage among 3-year-old fillies by winning the Fantasy Stakes at 16/1. She will stay in the States for her next race, the Santa Anita Oaks. (Image: Coady Photography/Oaklawn Park)

Swiss Skydiver Won’t Dive Into English Classic, Will Drop into Santa Anita

- 3 min read

After all is said and done, standout 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver won’t parachute into the 1,000 Guineas. Instead, the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks will drop into Santa Anita for next month’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks. Swiss Skydiver in the English Classic would have turned heads for several […]

Monomoy Girl, seen here nipping Wonder Gadot to win the 2018 Kentucky Oaks, returns to racing for the first time in 18 months Saturday. She is a 4/5 favorite in an allowance race. (Image: Churchill Downs)

She’s Back: Standout Mare Monomoy Girl Returns After Lengthy Absence

- 3 min read

Adding more prestige to Churchill Downs’ long-awaited Spring Meet opening on Saturday, champion 3-year-old Monomoy Girl returns to action for the first time in 18 months. In terms of class and competition, Monomoy Girl won’t be running against the elite fields she’s used to competing against. She’s entered as the […]

Serengeti Empress, seen here winning the Kentucky Oaks last May, has endured a roller-coaster career. She is the favorite coming into Saturday's Apple Blossom Stakes. (Image: Churchill Downs)

Apple Blossom Favorite Serengeti Empress Blazes a Roller-Coaster Trail

- 3 min read

She looms over the Apple Blossom Handicap field as a first-among-equals favorite. But royal resume, career victories and pedigree aside, Serengeti Empress wears the uneasy crown of a favorite with more to prove, and a desire to exit the roller coaster marking her career to date. Not that you’d turn […]

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