Mike Lepore not only has a strong contender for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby but also a leading horse for Friday’s Kentucky Oaks. The horse, Zanny, trained by Todd Pletcher in Kentucky, is the 4-1 favorite in a field of 14.
If Zanny wins, it would mark Pletcher’s fifth Oaks victory, bringing him level with both D. Wayne Lucas and Woody Stevens for the most wins in this prestigious event.
Now, this is Zanny’s fourth race, and he has triumphed in three of them. However, his last race didn’t go as planned—he finished second to No. 11 favorite, Percy’s Bar at the Ashland Stakes.
Speaking of Percy’s Bar, he’s positioned as the third favorite, sitting at 6-1 odds, while the actual top favorite is Explorer, also at 6-1. The second favorite is Meaning, coming in at 5-1. This horse heads to the Oaks riding the momentum of two consecutive wins, the latest one at the Santa Anita Oaks on April 4.
The other contenders with decent odds include Prom Queen and Counting Stars, both at 8-1, who bring excitement to the race.
The most-watched entry might just be Nycon, who trails behind horses like Bella Ballerina, Battle of Rouge, and Mymismo in the rankings.
Mark your calendars: the 152nd Kentucky Oaks kicks off at 8:40 PM ET on NBC, wrapping up the 13-race series at Churchill Downs.
