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2025 Kentucky Oaks: Top Betting Contenders

These three fillies are the betting favorites for Friday's race at Churchill Downs.
Frank Taddeo|
Kentucky Oaks hopeful Simply Joking rises off the ground during a morning workout at Churchill Downs. Photo by Pat McDonogh. April 25, 2025
Kentucky Oaks hopeful Simply Joking rises off the ground during a morning workout at Churchill Downs. Photo by Pat McDonogh. April 25, 2025 | Pat McDonogh / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

We are only days away from the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks, featuring an exciting field of 14 of the best fillies in the country. 

Our in-depth look at the top betting contenders involves three challengers who are expected to be forward placed, vying for the early lead in 1 ⅛  mile test.

No. 11 Good Cheer (6/5)

JOCKEY: Luis Saez  / TRAINER: Brad Cox

RECORD: 6 starts: 6-0-0

TOP EQUIBASE SPEED FIGURE: 102

RUNNING STYLE: Stalker

CAREER EARNINGS: $877,630

Good Cheer has been extraordinary to start her career, beating her competition by a combined 42 ½ lengths, including a 3-for-3 record in stakes races (Golden Rod Stakes, G2, Rachel Alexandra Stakes, Gr. 2, Fair Grounds Oaks, G2). 

We would be remiss not to also highlight that the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is also 3-for-3 over the Churchill Downs dirt surface. She is the clear one to beat in this field.

No. 7 La Cara (6-1)

JOCKEY: Dylan Davis / TRAINER: Mark Casse

RECORD: 9 starts: 4-2-0

TOP EQUIBASE SPEED FIGURE: 105

RUNNING STYLE: Pacesetter/ Press the Pace

CAREER EARNINGS: $866,083

Mark Casse’s trainee, La Cara, enters the Oaks off a career-best effort in winning the Ashland Stakes (G1) gate-to-wire by 1 ¼ lengths, earning her first triple-digit Equibase Speed figure (105). 

The daughter of 2007 Kentucky Derby champion Street Sense appears to be in peak form after firing a bullet four furlongs in 46.00 seconds on April 22 at Churchill Downs. Mark Casse is confident in La Cara’s chances to get the early lead : “There is going to be some serious pace in the race, but we are going to go to the lead,” said Casse. “She looks great, she is just a little powerhouse.”

No. 14 Quietside 8-1

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz  / TRAINER: John Ortiz

RECORD: 7 starts: 3-3-1

TOP EQUIBASE SPEED FIGURE: 100

RUNNING STYLE: Pacesetter / Presser

CAREER EARNINGS: $957,200

The daughter of Malibu Moon has been a model of consistency, hitting the board in all seven of her career starts. After coming up short in her first three stakes races as a two-year-old, she finally broke through winning the Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. She followed up that victory with a second straight trip to the winner’s circle in the Fantasy Stakes (G2), earning a career-best 100 Equibase Speed figure.

Quietside is working well leading to the Oaks, completing a solid four-furlongs in 48.20 seconds on April 25 at Churchill Downs. John Ortiz is excited for the chance to write his name into history books with Quietside: “We are happy with the way she looks,” said Ortiz. “You could really see her extending without even being asked. I think she knows what her job is. It is scary how great she looks, just taking it in and admiring what I see.”

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Frank Taddeo
FRANK TADDEO

Frank Taddeo is a successful high-stakes fantasy football player who created the first-ever DFS program offered in a Las Vegas sportsbook. Besides contributing NFL fantasy analysis with a Vegas slant, Frank Taddeo primarily performs as On SI’s Senior Fantasy Analyst, providing his significant experience and resources in the sports world.

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