The thrilling two minutes of the Kentucky Derby is etched in tradition for the first Saturday in May, but for the locals in Louisville, the real celebration kicks off the day before, on “Oaks Day.” This event at Churchill Downs draws huge crowds, where many enjoy sipping on the finest bourbon.
While it’s not unusual to see more than 100,000 attendees at a horse racing event, the atmosphere is surprisingly calm, especially compared to the morning frenzy that follows the sunrise.
The Kentucky Oaks features three-year-old fillies competing over a distance of 1 1/8 miles, with a notable prize pool of $1.5 million for this Grade 1 Stakes race.
Kentucky Oaks Position and Morning Line Odds
2025 Kentucky Oaks
| Post position | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Morning Line Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Stage | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Edgard Zayas | 30-1 |
| 2 | I’m Simply Kidding | Whit Beckman | Florent Geroux | 10-1 |
| 3 | With Love | Graham Motion | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 30-1 |
| 4 | Drexel Hill | Whit Beckman | Ben Curtis | 30-1 |
| 5 | Quickick | Thomas Amos | Humberto Rispoli | 30-1 |
| 6 | Ballerina Doro | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | 10-1 |
| 7 | Lakara | Mark Casse | Dylan Davis | 6-1 |
| 8 | Tenma | Bob Baffert | Juan Hernandez | 12-1 |
| 9 | Please Take Charge of Miradi | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 12-1 |
| 10 | Thank You | Brad Cox | Luis Saez | 6-5 |
| 11 | Anna’s Promise | Carlos David | Junior Alvarado | 30-1 |
| 12 | Bless the Broken One | William Walden | John Velazquez | 30-1 |
| 13 | A Quiet Side | John Ortiz | Jose Ortiz | 8-1 |
2025 Kentucky Oaks
*Horse 8 was originally set as “5g,” but unfortunately sustained an injury on Thursday.
Kentucky Oaks Prediction
The clear favorite seems to be number 10, Thank You, who has had a stellar six-race career without a loss. Trained by Louisville’s own Brad Cox, she has triumphed at Churchill Downs before, including a Grade 2 win in the Golden Rod Stakes last November. In her last race, she emerged victorious in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks in New Orleans, showing impressive speed numbers.
This filly, I mean, she could have easily entered the Derby if she wanted to, and fans will likely be rallying behind her as she heads toward the Breeders’ Cup in November.
Lakara is expected to be the second choice after her outstanding performance in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. She led the race and finished with an impressive speed rating, although the Oaks race distance is significantly longer than the Ashland run.
Mark Casse, lacking a Derby or Oaks win to date, is looking for that breakthrough, and supporters are hopeful.
Meanwhile, I wouldn’t count out Chad Brown’s horses—Ballerina Doro has potential too. Running at 10-1 odds after a win in the Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes, she’s shown progress, but her earlier races weren’t as strong. Dylan Davis, who secured that earlier win, is now jockeying for Lakara in the Oaks.
For anyone interested in betting this weekend, FanDuel Racing is providing a rebate offer: new customers can make their first wager up to $500, and if it doesn’t win, they’ll get bonus dollars for more bets—valid for a week.
How to Watch Kentucky Oaks
The Oaks race will post at 5:51 PM, and coverage can be found on the US network starting at 1 PM, including streaming options on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app for all Oaks Day events.
