Kentucky Oaks 2022: Field, picks, free PPs, preview, more

One day before he attempts to win the Kentucky Derby for the third time, trainer Todd Pletcher saddles the morning-line favorite Friday as he aims for his fifth Kentucky Oaks victory.

Nest (5-2) is favored for the 2022 edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks. Post time from Churchill Downs is 5:51 p.m., with USA Network showing the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

See latest Kentucky Oaks odds.

Pletcher won the 2021 Kentucky Oaks with Malathaat, who went on to be named Eclipse Award winner as racing’s top sophomore filly. The trainer also took the lilies with Princess of Sylmar (2013), Rags to Riches (2007) and Ashado (2004).

In Nest, Pletcher has a filly that already owns one authoritative win at the Grade 1 level. She scored April 8 at Keeneland in the Ashland Stakes (G1) by 8 1/4 lengths while crossing the wire in hand under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Ortiz stays aboard the Curlin filly. She sports a 5: 4-0-1 record that also includes wins last December at Aqueduct in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) and in February at Tampa Bay Downs in the Suncoast Stakes.

Kathleen O. (7-2) brings a 4-for-4 record into the Kentucky Oaks. The Shug McGaughey trainee took the Florida route to Churchill, winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) on April 2 after taking the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) in March over the same surface.

Echo Zulu (4-1) is also unbeaten, entering Friday’s race at 5-for-5 for trainer Steve Asmussen. A three-time Grade 1 winner at 2, she won her only start this season by a nose March 26 in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) over Kentucky Oaks long shot Hidden Connection (20-1).

Another intriguing starter Friday is Secret Oath (6-1) for D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer. After cruising in Oaklawn Park’s Honeybee Stakes (G3) in February, she was third April 2 against the boys as the Arkansas Derby (G1) favorite.

Here is the field for the 2022 Kentucky Oaks (trainer and jockey in parentheses):

1. Secret Oath (D. Wayne Lukas, Luis Saez)

2. Nostalgic (Bill Mott, Jose Ortiz)

3. Hidden Connection (Bret Calhoun, Reylu Gutierrez)

4. Nest (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr.)

5. Goddess of Fire (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez)

6. Yuugiri (Rodolphe Brisset, Florent Geroux)

7. Echo Zulu (Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario)

8. Venti Valentine (Jorge Abreu, Tyler Gaffalione)

9. Desert Dawn (Phil D’Amato, Umberto Rispoli)

10. Kathleen O. (Shug McGaughey, Javier Castellano)

11. Cocktail Moments (Kenny McPeek, Corey Lanerie)

12. Candy Raid (Keith Desormeaux, Rafael Bejarano)

13. Shahama (Todd Pletcher, Flavien Prat)

14. Turnerloose (Brad Cox, Manny Franco)

AE, 15. Beguine (Daniel Peitz, Ricardo Santana Jr.)

TimeformUS’ pace projections show long shot Yuugiri making the early lead under jockey Florent Geroux and setting a fast pace, followed by Echo Zulu. Favorite Nest is expected to settle near the back of the field early on.

Note that TimeformUS lacks pace data on UAE Oaks (G3) heroine Shahama, who makes her North American debut Friday.

Visit Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page for more information on the Kentucky Oaks field.

Kentucky Oaks links

Padraic Manocchio predicts the Kentucky Oaks full order of finish, from Kathleen O. in first to Candy Raid in 14th.

Reinier Macatangay explains why bettors should use Nest and Secret Oath atop their Kentucky Oaks tickets and offers a long-shot alternative to Echo Zulu.

Echo Zulu trainer Steve Asmussen, the winningest conditioner in North American racing history, reflects on his career ahead of both the Oaks and Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

This week on HorseCenter, hosts Matt Shifman and Brian Zipse suggest wagers for the Kentucky Oaks and also handicap the Kentucky Derby.

Handicappers Ed DeRosa and Sara Elbadwi analyze ways to cash in on the Kentucky Oaks-Kentucky Derby Double.

Kentucky Oaks undercard

Here is a look at other graded stakes taking place Friday at Churchill Downs. All post times are EDT.

12:43 p.m. – $250,000 Modesty Stakes (G3), 4-and-up fillies and mares, 1 1/8 miles (turf), FS2

Bleecker Street (9-5) is favored for trainer Chad Brown in this event that was formerly run at the Churchill Downs-owned, and now-defunct, Arlington Park. Jockey Flavien Prat gets the call on the 4-year-old Quality Road filly, whose March 12 win at Tampa Bay in the Hillsborough Stakes (G2) improved her career record to 5-for-5. Brown also trains Fluffy Socks (3-1), a Grade 2 winner who was second April 14 in a Keeneland allowance race. Hendy Woods (5-1) is a stakes heroine who crossed sixth March 26 at Fair Grounds in the Tom Benson Memorial Stakes for trainer Mark Casse.

1:26 p.m. – $750,000 La Troienne Stakes (G1), 4-and-up fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles, USA Network

Shedaresthedevil (6-5) owns three prior Grade 1 victories, including in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks and 2021 La Troienne. Florent Geroux rides and Brad Cox trains the 5-year-old Daredevil mare, who finished third March 12 at Oaklawn Park in the Azeri Stakes (G2). Steve Asmussen trains Pauline’s Pearl (2-1), a Grade 3 victor who scored one better than Shedaresthedevil in the Azeri. Jilted Bride (6-1) climbs the class ladder for Asmussen off an Oaklawn allowance score March 18.

2:09 p.m. – $500,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2), 4-and-up, 1 1/16 miles, USA Network

Olympiad (9-5) enters on a three-race winning streak for trainer Bill Mott, with his most recent win coming March 26 at Fair Grounds in the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2). Jockey Junior Alvarado will pilot the 4-year-old Speightstown colt. Asmussen trains Max Player (5-2), a Grade 1 hero making his first start since settling for eighth Nov. 6 at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Happy Saver (7-2) is also a Grade 1 victor for trainer Todd Pletcher and returns off a layoff dating to a second-place run Nov. 26 at Churchill in the Clark Stakes (G1).

3:03 p.m. – $500,000 Edgewood Stakes (G2), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles (turf), USA Network

Dolce Zel (5-2) followed a March 12 score in Tampa Bay’s Florida Oaks (G3) by running second April 9 at Keeneland in the Appalachian Stakes (G2). Brown will give a leg up to jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. on the Zelzal filly. Brown also trains Spicer (3-1), the Florida Oaks runner-up. McKulick (7-2), another Brown trainee, last raced in October at Belmont Park, finishing third in the Miss Grillo Stakes (G2).

4:04 p.m. ­– $500,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G2), 3-year-old fillies, seven furlongs, USA Network

Matareya (5-2) owns back-to-back wins for Cox, including last out at this distance April 10 at Keeneland in the Beaumont Stakes (G3). Prat will ride the Pioneerof the Nile filly. William Morey trains Marissa’s Lady (7-2), a four-time stakes victor who took Turfway Park’s Serena’s Song Stakes on March 26. Pretty Birdie (4-1), a Grade 3 winner at 2, won the Purple Martin Stakes on March 26 at Oaklawn for trainer Norm Casse.

4:51 p.m. – $500,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2), 3-and-up, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf), USA Network

Arrest Me Red (4-1), a Grade 3 hero, aims to improve on a third-place showing March 19 at Gulfstream Park in the Silks Run Stakes. Ortiz will be up on the 4-year-old Pioneerof the Nile colt for trainer Wesley Ward. Rusty Arnold trains Gear Jockey (5-1), a Grade 3 victor who was third April 9 at Keeneland in the Shakertown Stakes (G3). Caravel (5-1), another Grade 3 winner, battles the boys for Cox after winning Turfway’s Queen Stakes on March 19.