Good Cheer was the Kentucky Oaks 2025 favorite and she ran her record to 7-for-7 with a popular wet track victory on Friday at Churchill Downs. Let’s recap the Oaks Day stakes action.
Grade 2 Edgewood (8.5T): Nitrogen was less than even money and she stalked and kicked away to win by 3 1/2 lengths for Jose Ortiz and Mark Casse. Lush Lips (GB) was rank early and rallied to nip Nitrogen’s stablemate Vixen for runner-up honors.
Grade 2 Alysheba (8.5f): Fierceness made his much anticipated 4-year-old bow and he delivered as the favorite for Johnny V and Pletcher. The race flow was in his favor and he wore down stubborn front runner Most Wanted to win by a length and a half. Hall of Fame was best of the rest in third and Locked was hurt by the lack of pace and ran on mildly for fourth.
Grade 1 La Troienne (8.5f): My 4-1 value top choice Raging Sea rallied for the win, and this was her first start since landing the place in the G1 BC Distaff last fall. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Chad Brown. 31-1 longshot Taxed caught early runner Randomized in the late going to pick up the place. Overwhelming favorite Thorpedo Anna was a bit uncomfortable early and chased the pace, came up empty in the stretch, and faded to last of 7.
Grade 3 Modesty (9T): She Feels Pretty returned from a layoff and picked up where she left off in 2024 with another easy win. She has elevated her game since adding blinkers last year for Cherie DeVaux. John Velazquez rode the winner. Gimme a Nother (SAF) landed the place and Saffron Moon was third.
Grade 2 Eight Belles (7f): The favorites disappointed in this spot. Look Forward turned back, battled on the pace from post 10, and won by a length and a half at 7-1 odds for Umberto Rispoli and Michael McCarthy. Blue Fire (13-1) and Evanescence (14-1) finished 2-3, and favorites Eclatant (9th), Verity (5th), and Impulse Buy (8th) underperformed.
Unbridled Sidney (5.5T): My top choice Queen Maxima shipped in from the West Coast and kept the ball rolling in a sharp 3 1/2-length victory from the outside post for Juan Hernandez and Jeff Mullins. Crown Imperial (18-1) and Epona’s Hope (7-1) finished 2-3, and beaten favorite Ag Bullet chased the pace, found some traffic, and ended up 7th of 9.
Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks (9f): Rain arrived late in the day and the track was wet fast (sealed). Good Cheer stalked while out in the clear and kept her perfect record intact in a 2 1/4-length victory for Luis Saez, Brad Cox, and Godolphin Racing. Drexel Hill rallied from far back to land the place at 33-1 odds, and Bless the Broken liked the wet footing and ran on for the show at 17-1. Tenma, Anna’s Promise, Quietside, Quickick, Early On, La Cara, Ballerina d’Oro, Fondly, Take Charge Milady, and Simply Joking also ran.
Jarrod’s Ky Oaks Day Full Card Highlights (5-2-25)
CD 1 SHRED THE GNAR ($3.76), Exacta ($16.12)
CD 2 DEFIANT LASS ($11.80)
Double (races 1-2, $28.68)
Double (races 2-3, $47.28)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $80.52)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $274.40)
CD 5 Nitrogen/Lush Lips Exacta ($12.08), Trifecta ($20.96)
CD 7 RAGING SEA (CD Price Play, $10.08)
Double (races 6-7, $14.68)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $48.96)
CD 8 SHE FEELS PRETTY ($3.58), Exacta ($8.96), Trifecta ($13.76), Superfecta ($18.74)
Double (races 7-8, $17.08)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $47.04)
Double (races 8-9, $37.32)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $165.20)
CD 10 QUEEN MAXIMA ($6.28)
Double (races 9-10, $58.54)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $117.44)
Double (races 10-11, $15.22)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $187.32)
Pick 4 (races 8-11, $305.16)
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my Triple Crown Series full cards.
