By Jarrod Horak
The Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks and non-graded Bourbonette Oaks were the latest road to Kentucky Oaks 2024 points races. In this report, I will look back at those events and update my “Fabulous 5” Oaks contenders. The Gulfstream Park Oaks and Fantasy Stakes are the next points races on Saturday, March 30.
My longtime top ranked Oaks contender Intricate stalked wide and came up empty in a very disappointing effort in the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 23. She drops out of my top five.
Kentucky Oaks 2024 Points Race Recaps
Fair Grounds Oaks (3-23-24)
Fractions: 23.84, 47.93, 1;12.42, 1:36.79, 1;43.24
Top 5 Finishers: Tarifa, Our Pretty Woman, V V’s Dream, Accommodate Eva, Intricate
Our Pretty Woman was the main speed on paper and she got clear early as expected. Tarifa was the 3-2 favorite and she overcame some early trouble to track the pace from second under Flavien Prat. The latter hooked up with Steve Asmussen’s front runner and they battled for the length of the stretch. Tarifa had outside position and gradually wore down Our Pretty Woman to score by a bit less than a length. Our Pretty Woman was 3 1/4 lengths clear of show finisher V V’s Dream. Ken McPeek’s filly saved ground stalking the pace and was 5 3/4 lengths in front of Louisiana-bred stakes winner Accommodate Eva. Intricate stalked outside and had nothing to offer in the stretch, and 52-1 outsider Midsummer March chased the pace and faded to finish far behind the others.
