Oaks News

With only one race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and none on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, change has been minimal in the Power Rankings this week.

Five horses forced their way onto the Power Rankings from a notable first weekend of racing in December, including one debutante that now looks to be one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Oaks.

Odds-on favorite Zany might have turned Saturday’s Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct into a laugher, but she announced herself as a serious candidate for the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Bob Baffert has won the Starlet (G2) a grand total of 11 times, including the past eight years in a row, and the Hall of Fame trainer is poised to extend that streak in Saturday’s $200,000 renewal at Los Alamitos.

As expected, the last weekend in November has seen a decent shake-up in Power Rankings for the first Friday and Saturday in May.

Champagne (G1) runner-up Talkin faces well-regarded class climbers Paladin, Renegade, and Courting in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct.

Godolphin’s 2-year-old homebred filly Bella Ballerina, a half-sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, won Saturday’s Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs.

A total of seven very talented two-year-old colts will run in Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Stakes races for juveniles have been few and far between, and as a result, there isn’t too much happening in the rankings once again.

Explora is set to invade Churchill Downs from Southern California, where she’ll face 12 rivals in Saturday’s $400,000 Golden Rod (G2), a “Prep Season” event on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.