Tipsheet: 2025 Kentucky Oaks

An exciting field of 14 three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Churchill Downs main oval in Friday’s $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Kentucky Oaks Picks

• #11 Good Cheer
• #8 Five G
• #2 Simply Joking
• #7 La Cara

Kentucky Oaks Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 11 with 8 
• $1 Trifecta: 11 with 2,7,8 with all
• $1 Superfecta: 8,11 with 8,11 with 2,7 with all

Kentucky Oaks Contenders

#1 EARLY ON (30-1): Saffie Joseph trainee ran a lifetime best when runner-up in the Gazelle S. (G3) in her most recent performance. Union Rags filly has shown nice improvement since moving to route races and could grab a minor share with another step forward under Edgard Zayas. 

#2 SIMPLY JOKING (10-1): Dual stakes winner suffered her first setback in the Fantasy S. (G2) last time out but rates a solid chance in the contest with continued ascension on this occasion. Whit Beckman pupil will be in the mix from the opening bell with Florent Geroux accepting the ride. 

#3 FONDLY (20-1): Lightly raced daughter of Upstart is two-for-two, led by a game score in the Virginia Oaks last time out. Graham Motion trainee will have to get faster to win the race, but she has a bright future and can’t be discounted with Irad taking the reins. 

#4 DREXEL HILL (30-1): Second from the Beckman barn eclipsed the Busher S. at Aqueduct in her latest appearance. Bolt d’Oro filly is training well as of late, but she will need a big step forward to be in the mix late against this field.

#5 QUICKICK (30-1): Grade-1 placed daughter of McKinzie has gone unplaced in two runs this campaign and would be a surprise for trainer Tom Amoss. The $550,000 yearling purchase will have Umberto Rispoli in the silks. 

#6 BALLERINA D’ORO (10-1): Gazelle S. (G3) heroine comes in with a trio of fine tries since moving to the dirt and will be a late threat for conditioner Chad Brown. The Kentucky-bred gray put in a good half-mile move on the surface in advance of Friday and will be doing her best work in the stretch beneath Flavien Prat. 

#7 LA CARA (6-1): Ashland S. (G1) starlet has two wins and a second from a trio of outings in 2025 and might be the main threat to the favorite under Dylan Davis. The Mark Casse charge owns a Grade 3 victory on the course and the homebred will be forwardly placed from the opening bell. 

#8 FIVE G (12-1): Dangerous daughter of fine young sire Vekoma comes off a gate-to-wire tally in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and gets a long look at a nice price. George Weaver trainee has been first or second in each of her trio of assignments this campaign and will force the tempo from the start under Manny Franco. 

#9 TENMA (12-1): West Coast import from the Baffert barn is five-for-six in her lifetime with four graded tallies and is an obvious contender in the group. The $850,000 daughter of Nyquist can win from on or off the pace, and the dark bay miss could sit a nice trip in the affair with regular pilot Juan Hernandez riding. 

#10 TAKE CHARGE MILADY (12-1): Ashland S. (G1) second had a fine prep for the race and could be dangerous late with a move in the right direction on this occasion. Take Charge Lady filly comes in with a pair of bullet morning moves and will do her best work late with Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the silks. 

#11 GOOD CHEER (6-5): Unbeaten daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has yet to be seriously challenged in six career events and is the clear one to beat for trainer Brad Cox. The bay is perfect from a trio of lifetime runs on the course and she will be a menacing figure turning for home under the guidance of Luis Saez. 

#12 ANNA’S PROMISE (30-1): The chestnut daughter of Promises Fulfilled was a clear second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in her second run off the claim and has some exotics appeal at a hefty price. Kentucky-bred sophomore will be asked for speed from the start beneath Junior Alvarado. 

#13 BLESS THE BROKEN (30-1): Dark bay daughter of Laoban rallied in the lane to capture the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park in her latest assignment. William Walden pupil will need a big move forward getting back on the dirt to make an impact on Friday, however, with John Velazquez in the stirrups. 

#14 QUIETSIDE (8-1): Shortleaf Stable homebred has never finished out of the top three and is peaking right now for trainer John Ortiz. The Malibu Moon filly continues to train swiftly in advance of her toughest test to date, but she will also have to overcome the widest post slot in the group. Jose Ortiz will pilot the contender. 

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