Early Look: 18 likely Ky. Oaks starters ahead of Monday draw

Little is likely to change at top of the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard ahead of the draw on Monday at Churchill Downs.

Fourteen horses will start in the $1.25 million race on May 6, but 18 will be drawn, including four also-eligibles.

One question about the potential field was answered on Wednesday when trainer Tim Yakteen said Adare Manor, a former Bob Baffert trainee, would not point to either the Oaks or the Eight Belles (G2) on the undercard. She was a late nomination to the Oaks and was ranked No. 16 on the leaderboard.

Here is an early look at 18 possible candidates – the 14 at the top of the leaderboard and the next four.

Kathleen O. Shug McGaughey's Upstart filly is 4-for-4 but is only the fourth choice in offshore futures odds at 5-1. She broke her maiden in November then went on a tear at Gulfstream, winning a black-type stakes and then the Davona Dale (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). On Saturday, she breezed four furlongs in 48.80 seconds at Keeneland.

Echo Zulu. This daughter of Gun Runner is the top choice in offshore futures at 7-2. The Steve Asmuseen trainee was the original "it girl" of the season when she won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies to go 4-for-4 for 2021. In her only start this year, she won the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) by a nose as the 1-9 favorite. On Monday, she breezed worked through eighth-mile fractions of 12.20, 23.80, 35.60 and 47.40 seconds and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.20, according to Churchill Downs.

Nest. A Curlin filly, the second choice in offshore futures at 5-2, Nest is 4-for-5 overall and has won three three straight starts since December, most recently the Ashland (G1). Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Kentucky Oaks four times, including last year with Malathaat. Her last published work was four furlongs in 48.08 last Friday at Churchill.

Yuugiri. Listed in offshore futures at 25-1, Rodolphe Brisset's filly by Shackleford has finished in the money in each of her five career starts. She won the Fantasy (G2) by a neck last out for her first win of the year. She worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 Sunday at Keeneland.

Desert Dawn. A daughter of Cupid with offshore futures odds of 16-1, her win in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) was only her second victory in seven career starts. She worked four furlongs in 47.40 Sunday at Santa Anita for Phil D'Amato.

Nostalgic. Also at 16-1 in offshore futures, the Golophin home-bred has won three of five starts, including the Gazelle (G3) last out. Bill Mott has shipped her to Churchill Downs, where she worked four furlongs in 48.80 on Saturday.

Venti Valentine. Trained by Jorge Abreu, the daughter of Firing Line has offshore futures odds of 20-1 and a record of 5: 3-2-0. She earned her way in with a seven-length win in the Busher Invitational plus runner-up efforts in the Demoiselle (G3) and the Gazelle. She worked four furlongs in 47.40 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, second-best of 84 at the distance.

Secret Oath. The Arrogate filly is the third choice in offshore futures, at 9-2. She might have been higher on the leaderboard had she not tried the Arkansas Derby (G1), where she finished a respectable third. Before that, she won four straight, including the Honeybee (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths. She breezed six furlongs in 1:13.0 Monday at Churchill Downs.

Goddess of Fire. Offered at 20-1 in offshore futures, the Mineshaft filly has been on a streak of seconds for Pletcher, with runner-up finishes in her last three starts. These include the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). She worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 last Friday at Churchill Downs.

Turnerloose. The Nyquist filly is 40-1 in offshore futures. After four starts on turf last year with mixed results, Brad Cox moved the Nyquist filly to dirt for her first start of 2022, and she won the Rachel Alexandra (G2). Last out, she was fourth in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She breezed five furlongs in 1:01.2 last Friday at Churchill Downs.

Hidden Connection. Trained by Bret Calhoun, this daughter of Connect is at 10-1 in offshore futures. She earned her way to Churchill Downs with a fourth-place finish in the Rachel Alexandra and a second (to Echo Zulu) in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She worked four furlongs in 1:00.60 Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Cocktail Moments. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the daughter of Uncle Mo is at 12-1 in offshore futures after finishing second in the Ashland and third in the Davona Dale. She hasn't won in three starts since she broke her maiden on first try in November. She breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 last Friday at Churchill Downs.

Candy Raid. Trained and co-owned by Kent Desormeaux, this Candy Ride filly is at 33-1 in offshore futures. She has had 10 starts on three surfaces and earned her way to the Kentucky Oaks with a win last out in the Bourbonette. She worked four furlongs in 49.20 Saturday at Keeneland.

Shahama. This Munnings filly, 16-1 in offshore futures, comes to Pletcher after going 4-for-4 in Dubai. Her win in the UAE Oaks in February was enough to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. She worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 last Friday at Churchill.

The next four:

Shotgun Hottie. The Gun Runner filly is 66-1 in offshore futures. Most of her qualifying points came from a second-place finish in the Busher Invitational and a third in the Gazelle (G3).

Ain't Easy. The daughter of Into Mischief, trained by Phil D'Amato is 33-1 in offshore futures. She was 2-for-2 last year and finished third in both her starts this year, the Santa Ysabel (G3) and the Santa Anita Oaks.

Beguine. Another Gun Runner filly, she was second by a neck to Yuugiri in the Fantasy. That was her first start after breaking her maiden in March for trainer Daniel Peitz.

Classy Edition. Listed at 25-1 in offshore futures, she was second to Kathleen O. in the Davona Dale and fourth behind three others here in the Gazelle.