144TH KENTUCKY OAKS
| PP | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ML ODDS | ||||
| 1 | Sassy Sienna | Brad Cox | Gary Stevens | 15-1 | ||||
| 2 | Coach Rocks | Dale Romans | Luis Saez | 12-1 | ||||
| 3 | Classy Act | Bret Calhoun | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 15-1 | ||||
| 4 | Chocolate Martini | Tom Amoss | Javier Castellano | 12-1 | ||||
| 5 | Wonder Gadot | Mark Casse | John Velazquez | 20-1 | ||||
| 6 | Kelly’s Humor | Brad Cox | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 30-1 | ||||
| 7 | Rayya | Bob Baffert | Drayden Van Dyke | 15-1 | ||||
| 8 | Heavenhasmynikki | Anthony Quartarolo | Calvin Borel | 30-1 | ||||
| 9 | Take Charge Paula | Kiaran McLaughlin | Jose Ortiz | 15-1 | ||||
| 10 | Midnight Bisou | Bill Spawr | Mike Smith | 5-2 | ||||
| 11 | My Miss Lilly | Mark Hennig | Joe Bravo | 10-1 | ||||
| 12 | Patrona Margarita | Bret Calhoun | Ricardo Santana Jr. | 30-1 | ||||
| 13 | Eskimo Kisses | Kenny McPeek | Corey Lanerie | 15-1 | ||||
| 14 | Monomoy Girl | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux | 2-1 |
A full field of 14 fillies has been entered to go 1 1/8 miles on May 4 at Churchill Downs in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (G1), and a pair of Grade 1 winners will vie for favoritism the day of the race.
Monomoy Girl drew the far outside post position 14 under jockey Florent Geroux, who guided the Brad Cox trainee to a 5 1/2-length wire job in the April 7 Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. The chestnut daughter of Tapizar narrowly edged out Midnight Bisou as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 144th running of the Kentucky Oaks.
The Bill Spawr-trained Midnight Bisou was installed as the 5-2 second favorite by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The Midnight Lute miss drew post 10 and keeps Mike Smith in the irons for the Run for the Lilies. The duo first teamed up to take the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park in Midnight Bisou’s January 7 sophomore bow and have gone on to remain unbeaten together, including a 3 1/2-length score in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) last out on April 7.
Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou were the only fillies in the field to attract single-digit morning-line odds. The next lowest price is My Miss Lilly at 10-1 from trainer Mark Hennig’s shedrow. That gray daughter of Tapit is one of only two in the field with prior experience going the Oaks distance of nine furlongs. My Miss Lilly and jockey Joe Bravo captured the Gazelle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct on April 7 going 1 1/8 miles and drew post 11.
Wonder Gadot is the other Oaks runner with experience at the distance, posting a 3 3/4-length victory in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct last year to conclude her juvenile campaign. The Mark Casse-trained daughter of Medaglia d’Oro hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since that triumph, but enters the Kentucky Oaks under John Velazquez off a nose second in the Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park on April 13. Wonder Gadot will break from post 5 at 20-1 on the morning line.
