Best way for beginners to bet $10 on Zany in the Kentucky Oaks

Repole Stable’s Grade-2 winning horse #2 Zany (4-1) has been installed as the morning-line choice for Friday’s $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.

The three-year-old will lead a full field of sophomore fillies to post in a fascinating rendition of the Oaks, which attracted a full field of talented runners. 

Kentucky Oaks Wager:

• $5 win and place #2 Zany ($10)

Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher, the chestnut horse won the first three races of her career, beginning with a facile win in a maiden special weight race while going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 2. The daughter of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah faced stakes runners in her second lifetime race and came through with a dominant win in the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct in the winter at the Kentucky Oaks distance of 1 1/8 miles.

Zany commenced her 2026 season with a strong win in the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7, and her lone defeat came last time when she rallied to be a clear second in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland on April 3. The filly, who was purchased for $350,000 as a yearling at a public auction at Saratoga, actually ran quite well in her only setback to date, and she is still the one to beat in a very good field. 

The Kentucky-bred received a nice draw near the rail to save early ground in the affair, and I feel that she could be moving best of all in the closing stages of the event on Friday with regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. on board. 

For those looking to place a wager on Zany, I feel that she is destined to finish no worse than third in the Oaks, with a top-two finish result possible. She is really good; the filly has done little wrong in advance of the race, and the distance will be to her advantage, as well. In addition, she has a top trainer and a top jockey, so I have a high level of confidence that the horse will run a fine race on Friday. 

I suggest keeping things simple from a wagering standpoint in this circumstance. A win and place bet on Zany. It might not be the sexiest of wagers with an expected modest return, but as the saying goes, a short winner is better than a long loser!

Good Luck!