This is where you’ll find free Kentucky Oaks picks from our in-house handicappers and experts. Join us as we provide key info and discuss the thinking behind our selections from a wide range of markets including futures and exotic bets.

Road to the Kentucky Oaks 2025

Just like the Kentucky Derby, there are a series of Kentucky Oaks prep races for the fillies starting the September prior, through fall and winter into the spring. With qualifying points up for grabs in each of these, there’s a leaderboard. These are the final standings:

1. Quietside (168)
2. La Cara (151.75)
3. Good Cheer (145)
4. Five G (125)
5. Ballerina D’Oro (116.25)
6. Tenma (108)
7. Early On (75)
8. Simply Joking (70)
9. Take Charge Milady (70)
10. Bless The Broken (67.50)
11. Drexel Hill (57)
12. Muhimma (50)
13. Fondly (50)
14. Ahavah (50)
15. Runnin N Gunnin (45)
16. Gowells Delight (41.5)
17. Vodka With A Twist (36.75)
18. Amarth (35)
19. Quickick (34)
20. Deloraine (31)
21. Her Laugh (30)
22. Supa Speed (27.5)
23. Admit (25)
24. Running Away (20)
25. Look Forward (15)
26. Vanilla Sundae (15)

Who are the Main Kentucky Oaks Contenders in 2025?

Kentucky Oaks favorites include Good Cheer, Quietside, La Cara and Five G. Considered the strongest of the field, these contenders picked up the most qualifying points from prep races.

Such fillies look likeliest to cause a stir on May 2. You can find all odds for the Oaks at the best Kentucky Derby racebooks online.

Good Cheer

Unbeaten in six career starts including three at Churchill Downs as a juvenile. Definitely stays an extended mile and the slightly longer distance of the Kentucky Oaks looks no problem.

Added to Grade II success here on final start before winter break with two more victories at that level around the New Orleans Fair Grounds. Brad Cox barn won this in 2018 and 2020. Her powerful owner-breeders took the race in 2023 too.

Trip optimum for her sire, who produced 2009 winner Rachel Alexandra – a filly with the record margin of victory. Dam won Ogden Phipps and Beldame Stakes later in career. Damsire successful in 2007 Kentucky Derby, so she’s regally bred and a leading contender.

Quietside

Picked up most points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks this time, but second to Good Cheer and Take Charge Milady either side of winter break. Held Five G (and Muhimma) and Simply Joking on Grade III and Grade II victories at Oaklawn Park since.

Sire responsible for 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb. Dam successful in Eight Belles Stakes during the big Churchill Downs meet, so has blend of speed and stamina for this test.

Clearly trained on since defeat by Good Cheer in the Golden Rod here in the fall. Looks very much like the barn’s best prospect since Brightwork. Respected.

La Cara

Made all in the Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, which punched her ticket to Churchill Downs latest. Interesting change of tactics from dropping out, but positive ride yielded big win.

Already a Churchill Downs winner at a mile in Grade III company as a juvenile. Never really got into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race, but improved on that since.

Sire won Kentucky Derby back in 2007 and responsible for dam of Good Cheer. Damsire landed the Preakness Stakes and produced plenty of horses that stay this far. One of the Kentucky Oaks picks with plenty of upside to her.

Simply Joking

Dual Listed winner at the New Orleans Fair Ground this winter. Held less than a length by Quietside in the Grade II Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park latest. Twice withdrawn from the Sales, but fetched $65,000 as a yearling.

Sire best over 1,400m but also won over a mile. Progeny doing best in sprints rather than middle distances. Damsire stayed this far, but not at the highest level, so there are stamina doubts.

Other Kentucky Oaks fillies have more going for them, but can’t be entirely ruled out at this stage despite finishing lower down the leaderboard.

Take Charge Milady

Purchased for $60,000 as a yearling by the barn responsible for the 2024 winner Thorpedo Anna. Upset Quietside at Oaklawn Park in Listed company back in January only to see the form reversed subsequently.

Bounced back when placing from off the pace behind La Cara in the Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland latest. Ran on nicely into second, but couldn’t reach the leader.

Sire a son of A.P. Indy and won Florida Derby. Dam out of the versatile stallion Scat Daddy, who also produced Triple Crown winner Justify, but also speedy horses. Many shrewd handicappers have her among their Kentucky Oaks picks this time.

Five G

Grade II Gulfstream Park Oaks winner in Florida latest after two prior Listed wins. Another held by Quietside on a run in-between those efforts in the Honeybee Stakes, however.

Up-and-coming sire won the Blue Grass Stakes around Keeneland himself, but flopped in 2019 Kentucky Derby here. Damsire landed Florida Derby and has progeny successful in plenty of races over the trip.

Fourth best on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks in terms of qualifying points, which might indicate where her ability level lies in relation to other favored runners.

Ballerina D’Oro

Just successful in Grade III Gazelle Stakes over the Kentucky Oaks trip at Aqueduct latest when hanging a little and getting her nose over the wire from Early On. This roan grey filly cost $320,000 as a yearling.

Previous third, when a nose behind La Cara in the Grade II Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park reads well too. Chad Brown bar had third and fourth in this race last year, so try again to win it.

Shares a sire with Good Cheer, but doesn’t have that filly’s unbeaten profile. Out of a Tapit mare with that damsire producing the winner of this in 2014. Can’t be ruled out.

Kentucky Oaks Picks And Analysis from Our Handicappers

Our handicappers believe in the power of versatility when making their Kentucky Oaks picks. Rather than place all their eggs in one basket by choosing winners, they look to other wagers and markets for additional value. This means analyzing and selecting horses from futures, top 3 to place or show, and other suitable bets.

Kentucky Oaks Predictions To Win

Typically the first of our Kentucky Oaks picks to be made is the winning horse. When most are learning how to bet on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, this is often the market of choice. Simplistic in nature, you win your bet if the horse chosen is the official victor of the race.

Kentucky Oaks Top 3 Picks

The chances of seeing some returns from expert Kentucky Oaks tips may improve when you back a horse to finish in the top 3. The first horse across the line is the winner, while 2nd and 3rd are known as place and show.

These wagers are available in pari-mutuel pool betting form. You can also bet on one or more the fillies Across The Board. This is to win, place and show all together.

Kentucky Oaks Longshot Picks

Betting value can sometimes be found in backing longshots to make a top 3 finish.  That reason alone may justify making Kentucky Oaks predictions from the left field. Our experts examine longshots for the race on the first Friday in May and give their reasons for why they might be going under the radar.

Kentucky Oaks Expert Picks for Exotic Bets

Exotic bets work differently from straight wagers but are worth considering as Kentucky Oaks picks. These bets are based on picking, for example, two or more horses to finish 1st and 2nd in order. Here are some variations of exotic bets you could look at.

Exacta Picks

If you’re not overly enthused at the prospect of just picking the Kentucky Oaks winner, an exacta allows you to choose 2nd place, too. To win your Exacta bet, you must predict the horses that finish 1st and 2nd in perfect order. A Quinella allows you to pick 1st and 2nd in any order, but the odds are reduced on account of less risk.

Trifecta Picks

Selecting three or more Kentucky Oaks picks to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in perfect order constitutes a Trifecta. This is the same whether you are making Kentucky Derby Trifecta picks the following day after the Oaks, or for another race in the US. The nature of Trifectas means that they can be hard to get right, but the payouts can be excellent.

The Stats Behind Picks for Kentucky Oaks

Experts apply known stats and key data before making their picks from the Kentucky Oaks field. This information, which is available online, includes everything from speed figures to results in prep races key to the overall Kentucky Derby schedule heading into May.

How Our Experts Make Kentucky Oaks Selections

There is no one area our handicappers consider over any other when making their selections. Instead, we treat the acts of research and analysis holistically. From assessing speed to considering trends relative to previous Kentucky Oaks results, we aim to build the bigger picture before making picks.

Horse Pedigree

As the genetic makeup of a horse owes everything to its parents, pedigree is understandably crucial. This is even more so with horses that are a relatively young age of three and without significant experience in major races. Such as all Kentucky Oaks entries.

Our experts look to establish lineage and may be encouraged to rate a horse based on it. Talented dams and/or sires don’t guarantee success – for example, offspring from champion Thoroughbred Uncle Mo has a 0-5 record in the race. But this is an outlier worthy of conversation, meaning it’s rare for quality not to be passed down.

Form

The record of horses in recent races is one of the key metrics used by handicappers in the Kentucky Oaks. But again, the short careers of these creatures enjoyed to date means that the sample size is not huge. But a horse coming in with impressive performances elsewhere will stand out.

One of the best ways our experts approach the matter of form is to treat some prep horse races and trials above others. For example, seven previous Ashland Stakes winners like Malathaat (2021) have become champions of the Oaks while champs of the Santa Anita Oaks share four.

Kentucky Oaks Odds

Horse racing betting sites and sportsbooks get things right more often than they get them wrong. But the simple fact is that favorites have a 20% win rate since 2013. While locking in picks based on odds alone is seldom a good idea, it’s even less recommended due to this stat.

Odds can tell us much about the profile of a filly heading to Kentucky. But they are certainly not as indicative of success as, say, Kentucky Derby odds for horses from 2013-18, who were all favorites. Trends for this race, on the other hand, should actively encourage bettors to consider non-favorites.

Speed and Stamina

Both tactical speed and impressive stamina are required to match the requirements of the Kentucky Oaks. Therefore, intelligent bettors should look to find proof (or the next best thing) of a horse’s ability to traverse Churchill Downs. Researching previous results and speed figures are good methods to use to find these out.

Although the Oaks is the greatest test a horse will have up to the race, not all champions had previous wins. Although graded stakes-winning, three-year-old fillies are likely to be well-backed, fast, and durable horses with 2nds and 3rds could sometimes offer value in betting markets – especially when so few favorites have won recently.

Combined Analysis

When all bases have been covered, from a horse’s overall profile to the benefit of backing them, our experts arrive at their picks. You will notice that our in-house handicappers provide expert rationale for each of their selections.

It is this combined analysis that has brought our experts to us. And while we may not get every result right, the use of substantial data and statistical analysis means we follow every step the right way.

FAQs

Who won the Kentucky Oaks last year?

Thorpedo Anna was the 2024 Kentucky Oaks winner, registering a finish time of 1:50.83 on sloppy going at Churchill Downs. It was the first of five Grade I stakes against fellow females for the Kenny McPeek filly.

What time is the Kentucky Oaks?

The Kentucky Oaks post time is scheduled for 5:45 pm ET on Friday, May 2, 2025. Barring any hold-ups or delays, horse racing betting fans can expect the action to begin around this time.

Who is the favorite to win the Kentucky Oaks?

Good Cheer is the Kentucky Oaks favorite this year. She leads the field on horse racing betting sites, ahead of the likes Quietside, La Cara, Simply Joking, Take Charge Milady and Five G.

How old are the fillies running in the Kentucky Oaks?

The Kentucky Oaks is a race between three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. Like most races, these rules are strict and unwavering, meaning no horse younger or older than the set age threshold is eligible to compete.

What channel is the Kentucky Oaks on?

You can watch the action unfold from this year’s Kentucky Oaks entries live on both the USA Network and Peacock. Coverage of this race day at Churchill Down has a schedule of between 1pm and 6pm ET.