The Kentucky Oaks has been known to be a prestige and lucrative event for three-year-old fillies with a purse of $600,000 to the winner, just 14 horses are allowed in the starting game, the race currently covers 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) and the horses carry 121 pounds (55kg). The race is usually held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby. Also, here are the 2023 Kentucky Oaks Standing Points!
Qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks
If more than 14 horses enter the Kentucky Oaks, positions will be reserved for the top 14-point earners from the Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifying series. If any of the top 14 does not enter the Oaks, their position is given to the next ranked horses on the list. Up to 18 horses may enter the race, with the bottom four point-earners listed as “also eligible”.
If any of the top 14 is scratched after entries are taken but before betting begins, the next ranked horse on the also eligible list will be eligible to run. If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreaker to get into the race will be earnings in non-restricted stakes races, whether or not they are graded. In the event of a tie, those horses will divide equally the points they would have received jointly had one beaten the other.
Kentucky Oaks Prep Season & Kentucky Oaks Championship Series
These prep races are divided into two categories -The Kentucky Oaks Prep Season and Kentucky Oaks Championship Series. The prep season runs through March 5th, presenting points on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the top four respective finishers. The only exception is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies which awards 20-8-4-2
The Championship Series starts in February and holds eight races on the Championship Series schedule offering 50-20-10-5 points, six other races, which are known as the final round of major prep races, award 100-40-20-10 and one exception is the Beaumont’s 10-4-2-1 point awards. The Road to the Kentucky Oaks series points are awarded on a descending scale to the top 4 finishers in designated prep races.
The Oaks Road typically starts with the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs and it goes along through early April with more races in the most prestigious racecourses such as Santa Anita, Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, and Keeneland among others.
Fillies who earn points as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby will be credited with them as part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. However, points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks are not credited toward qualifying for the Derby.
2023 Kentucky Oaks Standing Points
#
Horse
Points
Trainer
Breeder/Owner
1
Wet Paint
70
Brad H. Cox
Godolphin Godolphin, LLC
2
Pretty Mischievous
63
Brendan P. Walsh
Godolphin Godolphin, LLC
3
Dorth Vader
50
Michael Yates
John Ropes John Ropes
4
Mimi Kakushi
50
Ghadayer, S Bin
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed al Maktoum
5
Shidabhuti
50
Chad C. Brown
Gabriel Duignan & Gerry Dilger Peter M. Brant
6
Wonder Wheel
48
Mark E. Casse
Three Chimneys Farm, LLC & Clearsky Farms D. J. Stable LLC
7
Red Carpet Ready
35
George R. Arnold, II
Lynn B. Schiff Ashbrook Farm and Upland Flats Racing
8
And Tell Me Nolies
30
Peter Miller
Lara Run LLC Peter Redekop B. C., Ltd.
9
Hoosier Philly
25
Thomas M. Amoss
Candy Meadows LLC Gold Standard Racing Stable, LLC
10
The Alys Look
24
Brad H. Cox
G. Watts Humphrey Jr. Thrash, Ike and Dawn
11
Gambling Girl
21
Todd A. Pletcher
Gallagher’s Stud Repole Stable
12
Dreaming of Snow
20
Gerald S. Bennett
Karyn Philipp Team Equistaff, LLC. and Winning Stables, Inc.
13
Botanical
20
Brad H. Cox
Clearsky Farms & Godolphin LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farms
14
Condensation
20
Chris A. Hartman
William Humphries & Altair Farms LLC Pravin A. Patel
15
Miracle
20
Todd A. Pletcher
Tim Padgett WinStar Farm LLC and Siena Farm LLC
16
Occult
20
Chad C. Brown
Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC Alpha Delta Stables
17
Asset Purchase
20
Chad C. Brown
Sheltowee Farm & Dialed In Syndicate Klaravich Stables, Inc.
18
Guns n’ Graces
20
Chad C. Brown
Coffeepot Stable CHP Racing
19
Justique
19
John A. Shirreffs
John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock C R K Stable
20
Grand Love
18
Steven M. Asmussen
Three Chimneys Farm, LLC Three Chimneys Farm
21
Chop Chop
17
Brad H. Cox
Cobra Farm & MRJ Thoroughbreds Selective, LLC
22
Pride of the Nile
17
Leandro Mora
Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC West Coast Stables, LLC