Exotics Plays for the 2025 Jockey Club Oaks

A classy group of eight sophomore fillies will run 1 3/8 miles on the Aqueduct green in Saturday’s $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks (G3). The once-beaten #7 Laurelin has done little wrong in six lifetime appearances to date and will be a key in my wagers. 

Jockey Club Oaks Exotics

• $6 exacta 7 with 2,4,8 ($18)
• $1 trifecta 7 with 2,4,8 with all ($18)
• 10-cent superfecta 7 with 2,4,8 with all with all ($9)

Trained by Graham Motion, the daughter of sharp European sire Zarak was two-for-two as a juvenile with both tallies on this oval, and she commenced 2025 with a triumph in the Memories of Silver S. at Aqueduct, as well. Her Saratoga Oaks (G2) coup two back was excellent, and I feel that she ran a winning race in defeat when second in the Queen Elizabeth II S. (G1) at Keeneland in her most recent effort. I assume that the chestnut will handle the move to 1 3/8 miles with relative ease beneath regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche. 

One filly that I like at a price is #8 Unmerited Favor for trainer Kenny McPeek. The Summer Front lass faces much better in this contest, but she is in fine form and has thrived since stretching out in distance as of late, too. Kentucky-bred bay was game when posting a maiden victory at 1 5/16 miles at Kentucky Downs two back, which preceded a comfortable allowance coup at Keeneland most recently at 1 3/16 miles. She owns a fine turn of foot, and if Elliot can keep her in range to the top of the lane, then she can surely grab a minor award at a number. 

Belmont Oaks (G1) queen #4 Fionn was never a factor when fourth at Keeneland last time out, but the Brad Cox trainee is six-for-nine on the lawn in her lifetime and has to be on the ticket. The stout late runner is a question mark at the distance, as most in the field are, and she will also race with blinkers off for the initial time. The Twirling Candy sophomore will make her third run off the short layoff and gets the red-hot Prat in the irons once again. 

The Brendan Walsh-trained #2 Hereforagoodtime was a nice third at Kentucky Downs most recently and is a logical exotics threat in this spot. The Justify chestnut has been ultra-consistent while running well in each of her five lifetime starts on the green, and she will stalk the pace before making her move approaching the turn for home with John Velazquez in the silks.