2024 Kentucky Oaks Runners: Horses, Contenders, Odds & Expert Handicappers' best bet: Ways And Means can find a way to win for Chad Brown

Pretty Mischievous, with Tyler Gaffalione up, wins the 149 Running of The Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 5, 2023.
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Ron Wood

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Handicapper for Racing Post and Pickswise, specializing in US and Dubai horse racing with over two decades of expertize and experience. For Ron Wood media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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When is the 2024 Kentucky Oaks Race?

The Kentucky Oaks is on Friday, May 3, at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.

2024 Kentucky Oaks Post Time

Post time for the 2024 Kentucky Oaks is 5:51 pm ET.

If you’re looking to place a bet on the Kentucky Oaks and need a racebook to sign up for, then make sure you check out FanDuel Racing! New users can secure a no sweat first bet on the Kentucky Derby up to $500! And given the last 2 winners of the Kentucky Derby have been at 80/1 and 15/1, finding another big-odds winner could deliver a mega payout! Click this link to find out more and sign up for FanDuel Racing.

Kentucky Oaks Odds – Who is Favorite to Win the KY Oaks in 2024?

Tarifa, trained by Brad Cox and owned by Godolphin, is the current favorite to win the Kentucky Oaks at 5-1, but not far behind in the betting is Leslie’s Rose at 11-2, along with a pair of 6-1 shots in Just FYI and Ways And Means. Below is a list of each horse running in the Kentucky Oaks and their odds from FanDuel Racing.

  • Tarifa 5-1
  • Leslie’s Rose 11-2
  • Just FYI 6-1
  • Ways And Means 6-1
  • Thorpedo Anna 7-1
  • Power Squeeze 9-1
  • Our Pretty Woman 16-1
  • Where’s My Ring 16-1
  • Candied 25-1
  • Regulatory Risk 25-1
  • Lemon Muffin 33-1
  • Everland 40-1
  • Fiona’s Magic 50-1
  • Gin Gin 50-1
  • Into Champagne 50-1

Get all the need-to-know info with our 2024 Kentucky Derby guide, including when post time is, TV channel details and how to bet on it

Kentucky Oaks 2024 Horses and Runner-by-Runner Guide

There are 15 horses declared to run in the Kentucky Oaks, with 14 allowed to run. That means one of the horses must come out of the race for reserve Candied to run. Below is the name and number of each horse, as well as a quick guide to how they might perform from our horse racing expert.

2 Gin Gin
Maiden win came here and her trainer has won this twice since 2018, but isn’t remotely fast enough on all known form; behind two of these at Aqueduct latest; acts on wet tracks.

3 Where’s My Ring
Improved to win 1m1f Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct latest (fast track); more needed again.

4 Regulatory Risk
More to do than when second to Where’s My Ring in the Gazelle at Aqueduct latest but she is progressing; blinkers off.

5 Thorpedo Anna
Useful winner here last year; progressed to land 8.5f Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn on reappearance; contender; raced only on fast.

6 Lemon Muffin
Outside chance on her 8.5f Grade 3 Honeybee win at Oaklawn in February (fast track), but ran flat next time.

7 Fiona’s Magic
Front-running win in 1m Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream in March (fast track); scoped dirty when running poorly next time; bossing this field will likely be too much for her.

8 Tarifa
Main hope for two-time Oaks-winning trainer; 4-5 record; can get worked up and the sole reversal came here last year, but showed her talent with 6l defeat of Regulatory Risk at Keeneland on debut and again with three wins at Fair Grounds this term, twice recording decent times in Graded company (fast and sloppy tracks); major contender if handling the occasion.

9 Everland
Claimed for $30,000 last year; useful 8.5f AW win latest; big ask on dirt debut.

10 Into Champagne
Picked off by two of these rivals after contesting the pace in 8.5f Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks; may get more patient ride this time, but not bred for stamina; has won on sloppy.

11 Ways And Means
Held in highest regard last year when she won 6f Saratoga maiden by almost 13l; clipped heels and suffered an ankle chip but still finished second in 7f Grade 1 Spinaway there next time (lame straight after the race); returned 209 days later with second to Power Squeeze in 8.5f Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks; still potential; sharp work here last week; raced only on fast.

12 Power Squeeze
Has won four in a row (on fast), most recently 8.5f Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks; ought to stay; chance.

13 Just FYI
Two Grade 1 wins last year (fast and sloppy tracks) including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies; missed intended return with a fever, so she should build on belated reappearance which saw her finish second to Leslie’s Rose in 8.5f Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland.

14 Leslie’s Rose
$1,150,000 yearling; 3-4 record; disappointed two starts back; improved to win 8.5f Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland (fast track), with a race-fitness edge over runner-up Just F Y I but in a decent time; should contend.

15 Our Pretty Woman
$900,000 yearling; three starts at Fair Grounds; two minor wins on sloppy tracks, before front-running 3/4l second to Tarifa in 8.5f Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks (fast); trainer has won this twice; has got in off the reserves’ list.

R16 Candied
Reserve. Won 8.5f Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland last year; lacks early pace, so gate 1 has been no use to her in Grade 1s on last two starts, doing well for third in the circumstances at the Breeders’ Cup and perhaps in need of the run on reappearance in the Ashland; has more to give; raced only on fast.

2024 Kentucky Oaks Picks, Predictions & Best Bets: Ways And Means (6-1)

A few to choose from in a solid-looking Kentucky Oaks — which may be run on a wet track, looking at a rainy forecast — so it’s hard to be confident, but WAYS AND MEANS is preferred to Just FYI for top spot.

If you’re looking to place a bet on the Kentucky Oaks and need a racebook to sign up for, then make sure you check out FanDuel Racing! New users can secure a no sweat first bet on the Kentucky Derby up to $500! And given the last 2 winners of the Kentucky Derby have been at 80/1 and 15/1, finding another big-odds winner could deliver a mega payout! Click this link to find out more and sign up for FanDuel Racing.

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