Kentucky Oaks Winner from Top Rated Horse Racing Handicapper

 Its Oaks Day and the running of the 145th Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, which for non Racing Fans is the female version of the Kentucky Derby. A complete field of 14 will take their place in the barriers to run in this year’s running of the race, which has a local post time of 6:12 PM ET. This year’s race on paper looks to be a lot easier than past editions, the 145th Kentucky Oaks features a heavy favorite, with California star Bellafina set as the 2/1 dominant betting selection. See our top pick and Best Bet from our Top Rated Horse Racing Handicapper below.

Kentucky Oaks Final Field Odds & Betting

PP #HORSEJOCKEYTRAINERML ODDSRD RANK
1Out for a Spin (Hard Spun)Irad Ortiz, Jr.Dallas Stewart15-18
2Chocolate Kisses (Candy Ride)Julien LeparouxMark Casse20-114
3Lady Apple (Curlin)Ricardo Santana, Jr.Steve Asmussen20-13
4Bellafina (Quality Road)Flavien PratSimon Callaghan2-11
5Flor de la Mar (Tiznow)Joel RosarioBob Baffert20-111
6Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile)Manny FrancoRodolophe Brisset30-112
7Jaywalk (Cross Traffic)Javier CastellanoJohn Servis8-19
8Motion Emotion (Take Charge Indy)Mike SmithTom Van Berg15-1NR
9Liora (Candy Ride)Channing HillWayne M. Catalano20-14
10Champagne Anyone (Street Sense)Chris LanderosIan Wilkes6-17
11Jeltrin (Tapizar)Luis SaezAlexis Delgado15-110
12Street Band (Istan)Sophie DoyleLarry Jones15-12
13Serengeti Empress (Alternation)Jose OrtizTom Amoss8-16
14Restless Rider (Distorted Humor)Brian Hernandez, Jr.Kenny McPeek6-15

 

Kentucky Oaks Winner & Best Bet

4 Bellafina +200 – No surprises here. She is easily the deserving favorite and top selection. We often try to make cases for other runners but to me this is very straight forward.

Bellafina comes into this race off of a blowout victory in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1), which was her third straight win. Overall she has six graded stakes wins on her resume, including three Grade 1 triumphs. She is undefeated this year, with all of her wins coming at Santa Anita. Flavien Prat has the mount once again for this race, breaking from post 4.

The only case you could make against her is her failure at the Churchill Downs in the Breeders Cup. I’ve drawn a line  through her performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes (G1), with her being “in heat” that day, so the poor performance at Churchill Downs shouldn’t be a worry. On talent alone, she is by far the winner and Best Bet of the 145th running of the Kentucky Oaks.

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