The Rachel Alexandra Stakes and Sunland Oaks were the two Kentucky Oaks 2025 prep races last weekend. In this report, I will recap those races, update the Oaks points standings, and share my latest top five Oaks contenders.
The big Oaks prep this week is the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn on Feb. 23 and my top ranked Oaks contender Muhimma is the 7-5 morning line favorite.
Honeybee field: 1 – Muhimma (7-5), 2 – Necessity (20-1), 3 – Jenkin (20-1), 4 – Classic Appeal (50-1), 5 – Quickick (12-1), 6 – Take Charge Milady (9-2), 7 – Gunite Max (30-1), 8 – Going Steady (30-1), 9 – Look Forward (6-1), 10 – Flash Wear (50-1), 11 – Anonima (15-1), 12 – Quietside (8-1), 13 – Five G (4-1).
Kentucky Oaks 2025 Points Race Recaps
Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds (2-15-25): Anonima, Ballerina d’Oro, and Simply Joking scratched, and that left a field of four. Good Cheer was the overwhelming favorite and she ran her record to 5-for-5 with a facile 6 1/4-length tally. She stalked from the inside post, split horses in the stretch, pulled away at will and was much the best, and she galloped out with interest. Gowells Delight set the pace and was second best. Bless the Broken finished a neck in front of Aledean. Luis Saez guided home the winner for Brad Cox. Fractions: 24.30, 48.35, 1:13.19, 1:37.89, 1:44.12.
Sunland Oaks at Sunland Park (2-16-25): Overwhelming post time favorite Maysam lost this race before it even started. She was very fractious in the gate, broke slow, rushed up, and faded. With the favorite out of contention, Running N Gunnin sat back early, moved up in the middle, advanced wide around the turn, and kicked away to score by 4 3/4 lengths. Enchanting rallied to finish a clear second, and Stubby stalked, led, and was best of the rest in third. Pink Pacific dueled and weakened to fourth, and Rogue Justice, Maysam, and Street Colors rounded out the order of finish. Steve Amsussen saddled the winner and runner-up, and Alfredo Juarez Jr. was the winning pilot. Fractions: 24.19, 47.78, 1:12.92, 1:26.44, 1:40.09.
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)
Martha Washington (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 25 – Winner: Take Charge Milady ($7.20)
Forward Gal (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 1 – Winner: Eclatant ($10.00)
Las Virgenes (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 2 – Winner: Tenma ($2.40)
Suncoast (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 8 – Winner: La Cara ($9.20)
Rachel Alexandra (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 15 – Winner: Good Cheer ($2.10)
Sunland Park Oaks (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 16 – Runnin N Gunnin ($13.80)
Upcoming Oaks Points Races:
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. 23
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 22 Kentucky Oaks 2025 Points Leaders (thru 2-20-25)
Good Cheer (45 points)
Tenma (33 points)
La Cara (33 points)
Eclatant (23 points)
Take Charge Milady, Simply Joking, Runnin N Gunnin, Her Laugh, Running Away (20 points)
Vodka With a Twist, Quietside (18 points)
Bless the Broken (17.5 points)
Gowells Delight (16.5 points)
Scottish Lassie (16 points)
Look Forward (15 points)
Quickick (14 points)
Muhimma, Non Compliant, Stunner, Enchanting, My Sherrona, Cipriani (10 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2025 Contenders (2-20-25)
#1 – Muhimma (Munnings – Princess Carolina, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: Brad Cox’s unbeaten filly makes her much anticipated sophomore debut in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn on Feb. 23, and she drew post 1 and is the 7-5 morning line favorite. She has breezed six times this year including a 5f move in 1:01.80 (3/13) at Payson Park on Feb. 15.
#2 – Good Cheer (Medaglia d’Oro – Wedding Toast, by Street Sense) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: Brad Cox’s filly ran her record to 5-for-5 with another easy win in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15, and her job got easier after Anonima, Ballerina d’Oro, and Simply Joking scratched. I am still not sure how good she actually is but she has done nothing wrong up to this point.
#3 – Ballerina d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro – In the Moonlight, by Tapit) – Trainer: Chad Brown – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: She was entered in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 but spiked a temperature and was forced to scratch. Last year’s Demoiselle (G2) runner-up was training with a purpose prior to getting sick in Florida. Chad Brown will work out an upcoming schedule after she recovers from this setback.
#4 – Quickick (McKinzie – Graeme Six, by Graeme Hall) – Trainer: Tom Amoss – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: Last year’s Alcibiades (G1) runner-up and BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) show finisher has breezed four times this year at Fair Grounds. Her most recent work was 5f move in 1:01.60 (19/39) on Feb. 15. She is entered in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn on Feb. 23, and she landed post 5 and is 12-1 on the morning line.
# 5 Pretty Sassy (Medaglia d’Oro – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: She joined my top five after her romping dirt route maiden win as the even money favorite at Fair Grounds on Jan. 19. She was the 1-2 favorite in an optional claiming route at Fair Grounds Feb. 15 and she stalked the pace and edged California Sunset by a head. She has done enough to earn a start in an upcoming points race, but she needs to elevate her game to make an impact in the stakes ranks.
Next Nine: (6) Tenma, (7) La Cara, (8) Her Laugh, (9) Simply Joking, (10) Look Forward, (11) Take Charge Milady, (12) Wondrous, (13) Running Away, (14) Scottish Lassie
