2025 Kentucky Oaks Day spot plays

With 27 races carded for Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs, including, of course, the Kentucky Derby (G1), there is no shortage of options for bettors to sink their teeth into on the most popular weekend in American racing.

While the stakes action attracts the most attention and money, don't sleep on opportunities in the overnight events, which make up nearly half of Friday's card. Here are some horses I will focus on during Kentucky Oaks Day.

Race 2: Maiden, 11:29 a.m. ET

This 1 1/16-mile event for fillies and mares represents the first stretch-out opportunity for #8 Crawford (8-1), and she might benefit from the added ground. Second-best on debut at Tampa Bay Downs to future Virginia Oaks winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) entrant Fondly, Crawford next ran an even third going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream.

The Vicki Oliver-trained daughter of McKinzie has turned in some faster works since shipping to Kentucky and is potentially poised to take another step forward in a spot where she fits rather well.

Race 3: Maiden, 11:58 a.m. ET

Although he concedes maturity and seasoning to a couple of older rivals, Irish import #10 Some Performance (9-2) must be respected in this nine-furlong test on the grass.

His season debut on April 9 at Leopardstown, in which he was beaten nine lengths as a 6-5 favorite while toting a hefty 134 pounds, is perhaps not the race on his past performances to focus on. Instead, go back to his debut last October at the Curragh, where he was beaten a mere half-length by Expanded, who just a week later missed by a neck in the Dewhurst (G1). That's a solid piece of form for this class level, and he's in great hands now being trained by Brendan Walsh.

Race 5: Edgewood (G2), 1:03 p.m. ET

Aside from a forgettable debut last summer at Kentucky Downs, #8 Will Then (9-2) has been unstoppable for owner George Strawbridge and trainer Jonathan Thomas. Her three-race win streak has included triumphs in the Jimmy Durante (G3) over future multiple stakes winner Casalu, and the China Doll S. at Santa Anita in late March in her season debut.

Will Then figures to offer a square price while taking on the talented Mark Casse duo of Nitrogen and Vixen.

Race 9: Eight Belles (G2), 4:07 p.m. ET

A near-capacity field of three-year-old fillies will dash seven furlongs here, and while there is risk in backing an entrant returning from an extensive layoff in such a contentious spot, #10 Impulse Buy (7-2) has to be respected based on her solid juvenile form.

Showing a tendency to race near the front in her first three starts, Impulse Buy had to improvise in her season finale in the Nov. 30 Fern Creek S. at Churchill after breaking slowly. Fortunately for her, the pace was extremely hot, and her natural talent also enabled her to show a new dimension by rallying from near the back to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths. That versatility might come in handy for a filly that appears plenty fast enough to contend if not too fresh.

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