This year's 151st edition of the Kentucky Oaks has attracted 117 early nominees, up from 104 for last year's running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million classic.
Early nominations for the Oaks, which required a payment of $200, closed Feb. 15. The 1 1/8-mile race for fillies will be run on Friday, May 2, at Churchill Downs.
Fillies can still be made eligible for the Oaks with a $1,500 late-nomination fee through April 9, or with a $15,000 supplement at the entry deadline on April 26.
Not among the Oaks nominees is Eclipse Award champion Immersive, who's been sidelined with bone bruising. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner is a Godolphin homebred trained by Brad Cox, and both of those connections – recent Oaks winners themselves – are still well-represented among the early nominees.
Godolphin, which won the 2023 Oaks with Pretty Mischievous, has five nominations, led by Good Cheer, who remained unbeaten in winning the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra last Saturday at Fair Grounds. She currently leads the point standings toward a spot in the Oaks field, which is limited to 14 starters.
Good Cheer is trained by Cox, whose 10 total nominees also include unbeaten Muhimma, who runs in Sunday's Grade 3 Honeybee for Shadwell. Cox won the 2018 Oaks with Monomoy Girl and the 2020 edition with Shedaresthedevil. Meanwhile, two of Godolphin’s nominees, Pretty Sassy and Wondrous, are trained by Brendan Walsh, who handled Pretty Mischievous. That barn has five total nominees.
Kenny McPeek, who won last year's Oaks with Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, has five early nominees, led by Martha Washington winner and Honeybee entrant Take Charge Milady. Four-time Oaks winner Todd Pletcher has just two nominees, as does his mentor, D. Wayne Lukas, who's tied with the late Woody Stephens for all-time Oaks wins with five. Two-time Oaks winner Steve Asmussen has just one nominee in last weekend’s Sunland Oaks winner Runnin N Gunnin.
Bob Baffert, seeking his fourth Oaks win, has eight early nominees, led by three-time graded stakes winner Tenma.
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