The Busanda and Silverbulletday were the two Kentucky Oaks 2025 preps last weekend, and Running Away and Simply Joking went all the way in those points races. In this report, I will recap the Busanda and Silverbulletday, update the Oaks points standings, and share my latest top five Oaks contenders.
Likely 2-year-old filly champ Immersive was recently diagnosed with bone bruising and is off the Kentucky Oaks trail. She will likely be out of action until summer. She was my top ranked Oaks contender heading into this year so my updated list below features some changes including a new top ranked Oaks hopeful.
Kentucky Oaks 2025 Points Race Recaps
Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct (1-18-25): My top choice Running Away was the controlling pace on paper, and she broke on top and was quickly clear by 2 lengths. My Sherrona, a talented maiden for Raymond Handal, chased from second and confronted the front running favorite after six panels, but Running Away had plenty left in the tank and kicked away again to win by 2 1/2 lengths. My Sherrona settled for the place and Sharp Smile stalked the pace from the inside post and was a clear third. Ramify, Beautiful Blome, and Ruth also ran. Sahin Civaci rode the winner for Wesley Ward. Bernieandtherose, Bless the Broken, and Carmen’s Candy Jar scratched. Fractions: 23.83, 48.50, 1:13.54, 1:38.93, 1:52.23.
Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds (1-18-25): This was a carbon copy of the Untapable. In the latter race, Her Laugh stretched out after a debut sprint win and controlled the pace for trainer Whitworth Beckman. Fast forward four weeks to this event and Whit Beckman trainee Simply Joking stretched out after a debut sprint stakes win, and she set the tempo as the favorite and won by 2 1/2 lengths under Jaime Torres. Bless the Broken chose this spot over the Busanda and she rallied from last to land the place at 16-1, and Drexel Hill chased the pace and was best of the rest in third. Chasten, Golden Gamble, and She’s a Swede also ran. California Sunset and Gowells Delight scratched. Fractions: 23.70, 47.53, 1:12.84, 1:39.78, 1:44.30.
Kentucky Oaks 2025 Points Race Results
Pocahontas (10-5-3-2-1) – Sep. 16 – Winner: La Cara ($12.72)
Alcibiades (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 6 – Winner: Immersive ($5.34)
Frizette (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 7 – Winner: Scottish Lassie ($15.00)
Oak Leaf (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 7 – Winner: Non Compliant ($4.00)
Rags to Riches (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 29 – Winner: Good Cheer ($3.48)
BC Juvenile Fillies (30-15-9-6-3) – Nov. 3 – Winner: Immersive ($6.00)
Golden Rod (10-5-3-2-1) – Nov. 30 – Winner: Good Cheer ($3.32)
Demoiselle (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 7 – Winner: Muhimma ($2.80)
Starlet (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 7 – Winner: Tenma ($7.00)
Untapable (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 21 – Winner: Her Laugh ($11.00)
Sant Ynez (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 5 – Winner: Look Forward ($5.40)
Busanda (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 18 – Winner: Running Away ($5.10)
Silverbulletday (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 18 – Winner: Simply Joking ($5.40)
Upcoming Oaks Points Races:
Martha Washington (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 25
Forward Gal (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 1
Las Virgenes (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 2
Suncoast (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 8
Rachel Alexandra (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 15
Sunland Park Oaks (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 16
Cincinnati Trophy (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 21
UAE Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 21
Honeybee (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 22
Busher (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1
Davona Dale (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1
Santa Ysabel (50-25-15-10-5) – March 2
Virginia Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – March 15
Bourbonette Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – March 22
FG Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 22
Fantasy (100-50-25-15-10) – March 29
GP Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 29
Ashland (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4
Gazelle (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5
SA Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5
Top 20 Kentucky Oaks 2025 Points Leaders (thru 1-22-25)
Good Cheer, Simply Joking, Running Away (20 points)
Vodka With a Twist (18 points)
Scottish Lassie (16 points)
Look Forward (15 points)
Quickick (14 points)
Tenma, La Cara (13 points)
Muhimma, Non Compliant, Her Laugh, Bless the Broken, My Sherrona (10 points)
Quietside, Liam in the Dust (8 points)
Golden Gamble, Drexel Hill (7 points)
Nooni, Sharp Smile (6 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2025 Contenders (1-22-25)
#1 – Muhimma (Munnings – Princess Carolina, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: My new top ranked Oaks contender replaces her injured stablemate Immersive. This filly won all three starts last year and got to the front and controlled the tempo in her first attempt around two turns in the Demoiselle (G2). She is wintering in Florida and has worked twice this month including a half-mile breeze in 48.80 (3/93) at Payson Park on Jan. 19.
#2 – Ballerina d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro – In the Moonlight, by Tapit) – Trainer: Chad Brown – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: I liked the looks of her runner-up finish on the surface switch in the Demoiselle (G2). She rallied from 10th and last from the outside post and finished a length behind strong favorite Muhimma, and she was 6+ lengths in front of show finisher Liam in the Dust. She wants every bit of 1 1/8 miles and a race like the Alabama (G1) at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga later this summer might be in her wheelhouse. She shows three Payson Park moves this month including a half-mile breeze in 49.40 (22/93) on Jan. 19.
#3 – Good Cheer (Medaglia d’Oro – Wedding Toast, by Street Sense) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: This well-bred Godolphin filly captured all four starts last year and she made the grade in the Golden Rod (G2) Nov. 30. She has breezed three times at Payson Park this month including a half-mile move in 48.80 (3/93) on Jan. 19.
#4 – Quickick (McKinzie – Graeme Six, by Graeme Hall) – Trainer: Tom Amoss – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: She ran well in all four starts in 2024. Her lone win was at seven panels, and she stretched out and rallied to hit the board in the Alcibiades (G1) and BC Juvenile Fillies (G1). She has yet to return to the worktab and figures to start her sophomore campaign sometime in March.
# 5 Pretty Sassy (Medaglia d’Oro – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (unranked)
Comments: Another promising Godolphin runner. She was 7-1 in her dirt sprint bow at Churchill last November and ended up 5th of 11 in a nice experience run. She was even money at 1 1/16 miles second time out Jan. 19 and she stalked inside, moved up while full of run in the stretch, and burst clear by 7 1/2 lengths while under wraps at Fair Grounds. Her dam Pretty City Dancer was responsible for 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous. I am expecting her to show up in a Kentucky Oaks points race next time.
Next Nine: (6) Tenma, (7) Simply Joking, (8) Quietside, (9) Scottish Lassie, (10) Running Away, (11) Look Forward, (12) Her Laugh, (13) Non Compliant, (14) Wondrous
