Godolphin’s Tarifa, riding a three-race win streak, is the lukewarm 7-2 morning line favorite for the 150th running of the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) for three-year-old fillies on Friday.

The 1 1/8-mile Oaks will serve as the centerpiece for a 13-race program that features seven stakes worth a combined $5.25 million. First post is 10:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) with the Oaks going off as the 11th race with a 5:51 p.m. post time.

(Canadian Thoroughbred’s Oaks selections below.)

Trained by Brad Cox, TARIFA (Bernardini) will attempt to follow Godolphin runner Pretty Mischievous into the Oaks winner’s circle and make Godolphin the fourth owner to win the Oaks in consecutive years. The most recent was Cain Hoy Stable in 1959 and 1960.

A winner of four of five starts, Tarifa posted victories in the Rachel Alexandra (GII) and Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) in her past two starts. Flavien Prat, who was aboard for those victories, has the mount Friday from post 8.

The energetic filly has been very eager in morning workouts including a recent 59.20 move at 5 furlongs on April 26.

Cox, who won the Oaks in 2020 with Shedaresthedevil and in 2018 with Monomoy Girl, will also send out Calumet Farm’s Gin Gin (30-1). A winner of two of seven starts, Gin Gin will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 2.

Whisper Hill Farm’s Leslie’s Rose, winner of the Ashland, is the second choice on the morning line at 4-1.

Trained by four-time Oaks winner Todd Pletcher, Leslie’s Rose has won three of four starts and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 14. A $1.15 million yearling purchase by Into Mischief, Leslie’s Rose defeated rival Just F Y I in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 5.

Pletcher, who won the Oaks with Malathaat (2021), Princess of Sylmar (2013), Rags to Riches (2007) and Ashado (2004), also has Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Candied, who is second on the also-eligible list.

Third choice on the morning line at 9-2 is George Krikorian’s homebred Just F Y I, the champion two-year-old filly of 2023.

Trained by Bill Mott, Just F Y I won the Frizette (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) en route to the Eclipse Award last year for her division. Just F Y I opened her 2024 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Ashland (GI) at Keeneland on April 5. The Oaks should mark an improved effort from the daughter of Justify, who has been arguably the most impressive in works and gallops this past week.

Junior Alvarado has the mount from post 13.

The co-fourth choices on the morning line at 5-1 are Fantasy (GII) winner Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) for trainer Kenny McPeek and Ways and Means (Practical Joke) for trainer Chad Brown.

Owned by the partnership of Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing, Thorpedo Anna has won three of four starts. Brian Hernandez Jr. has been aboard for all four starts and has the mount Friday from post 5. Trainer McPeek has been bullish on his filly’s chances in the Oaks this week, bolstered by her big win in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) on Mar. 30.

Klaravich Stables’ Ways and Means enters the Oaks off a runner-up finish in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII). Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Pretty Mischievous to victory last year, will attempt to become the first jockey to win the race three years in a row since Eddie Arcaro (1951 to 1953). He will exit post 11 on Ways and Means. The lightly-raced filly has been working fast for the Oaks including a 46.00 move for four furlongs on April 26.

Brown also will send out Regulatory Risk (20-1) for Klaravich. Jose Ortiz, who won the 2019 Oaks on Serengeti Empress, has the mount from post 4.

In addition to Cox and Pletcher, one other trainer will be seeking to add to his Oaks record: D. Wayne Lukas.

Lukas, tied with Woody Stephens for the most Oaks victories with five, will send out Lemon Muffin (Collected) (30-1) for Aaron Sones and Julie Gilbert. Keith Asmussen has the mount from post 6.

Lukas’ Oaks victories started with Blush With Pride in 1982 and were followed by Lucky Lucky Lucky (1984), Open Mind (1988), Seaside Attraction (1990) and Secret Oath (2022)

Drawing in from the also-eligible list following the scratch of Tapit Jenallie is Our Pretty Woman, trained by Steve Asmussen. The $900,000 Medagalia D’Oro filly is a speedy runner who was passed only late by Tarifa in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).

~ with files from Kentucky Oaks media

CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED SELECTIONS:

13  –  JUST F Y I

5 – THORPEDO ANNA

3 – WHERE’S MY RING

14 –  OUR PRETTY WOMAN

 

KENTUCKY OAKS FIELD Race 11 Friday, post time 5: 51. p.m.
1. Tapit Jenallie, Eddie Milligan Jr., Emmanuel Esquivel, 30-1
2. Gin Gin, Brad Cox, Florent Geroux, 30-1
3. Where’s My Ring, Val Brinkerhoff, Jose Lezcano, 15-1
4. Regulatory Risk, Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz, 20-1
5. Thorpedo Anna, Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr., 5-1
6. Lemon Muffin, D. Wayne Lukas, Keith Asmussen, 30-1
7. Fiona’s Magic, Michael Yates, Luis Saez, 30-1
8. Tarifa, Brad Cox, Flavien Prat, 7-2
9. Everland, Eric Foster, Abel Cedillo, 30-1
10. Into Champagne, Ian Wilkes, Julien Leparoux, 30-1
11. Ways and Means, Chad Brown, Tyler Gaffalione, 5-1
12. Power Squeeze, Jorge Delgado, Daniel Centeno, 12-1
13. Just F Y I, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 9-2
14. Leslie’s Rose, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., 4-1
Also eligible
15. Our Pretty Woman, Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario
16. Candied, Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez

Tags: 150th Kentucky Oaks, Brad Cox, Churchill Downs, D. Wayne Lukas, Godolphin, Just F Y I, Lemon Muffin, Tarifa,

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