Exotics Plays for 2024 Jockey Club Oaks

A total of 11 sophomore fillies will travel 1 3/8 miles on the Aqueduct lawn in Saturday’s $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks (G3) on Saturday. The field lacks a standout, and spreading with a few of the contenders in the group makes a lot of sense to me.

Jockey Club Oaks Wagers

• $3 exacta box: 4,6,7,10 ($36)
• $1 trifecta box: 4,6,7,0 ($24)
• 20-cent superfecta box: ($4.80)

#6 Mont Saint Michel let me down somewhat in the Pucker Up (G3) at Ellis Park last time at the 1 1/8-mile distance, but the dark bay should thrive with the added distance on this occasion. By Wootton Bassett, the French-bred is from a very nice female family of turf runners and has flashed considerable ability at times. The Brendan Walsh pupil has gone unplaced in a pair of stakes races leading up to Saturday, but I expect her to move forward with the added ground with Kendrick Carmouche signed on.

The Godolphin homebred #4 Beautiful Love ran evenly in the deep Lake Placid S. (G2) at Saratoga in her stateside debut and will surely take a step in the right direction in her second start off the shelf. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Siyouni chestnut is bred to run long on the lawn, and this outfit is very good with horses making a second appearance off the break. I expect her to be more forwardly placed on the stretch out with Dylan Davis aboard.

German import #7 Lady Mary was third in the German Oaks (G1) in her latest showing and could be any kind in her first run on U.S. grass. Now under the care of Jack Sisterson, the daughter of Lawman has won or placed in seven of her eight lifetime tries in advance of Saturday, and I have to include the talented sophomore with Manny Franco taking the reins.

#10 Macanga will likely take the lead early and try to lull her foes to sleep on the front end for Richard Dutrow. The stakes-placed daughter of American Pharoah is better than she showed at Saratoga last time, and the bay also owns a win and a third from her pair of races over this turf course. Lane Luzzi will guide the expected pacesetter.