Just F Y I leads 104 nominees to Kentucky Oaks

Led by Eclipse Award champion Just F Y I, 104 fillies, nearly identical to the number last year at this stage, have been nominated to the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 3, host track Churchill Downs announced Wednesday.

These 104 fillies - 103 were nominated last year - became eligible for the Oaks with a $200 payment that was due Saturday, Feb. 17. Fillies not made eligible during the early nomination phase can still become eligible with a $1,500 late payment due Wednesday, April 10, or can be supplemented into the field for $15,000 when final entries are taken on Saturday, April 27.

The Kentucky Oaks is limited to 14 starters, with four also-eligibles permitted to be listed on the program. Like the Kentucky Derby, preference to make the Oaks gate is determined by points accrued in designated races. George Krikorian’s homebred Just F Y I currently sits second on the leaderboard with 40 points, by virtue of an unbeaten 2023 campaign that included wins in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Just F Y I returned to the work tab on Jan. 15 at trainer Bill Mott’s winter base at Payson Park in Florida; she has breezed five times thus far, and is scheduled to run in the Grade 2 Davona Dale on March 2 at Gulfstream Park.

:: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.

Flanking Just F Y I to make up the top three Oaks points leaders are fellow early nominees Tarifa, with 50 points, and Intricate, with 35 points. Both share connections with recent Oaks winners. Tarifa, winner of last weekend’s Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds, is owned by Godolphin, which campaigns last year’s Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous. Her trainer, Brad Cox, saddled Oaks winners Monomoy Girl (2018) and Shedaresthedevil (2020). Intricate is trained by Brendan Walsh, who saddled Pretty Mischievous last year.

Chad Brown (Catching Heat, Catherine Wheel, Experimental, Grayosh, Regulatory Risk, Restless Dreamer, Save Time, Ways and Means, Weigh the Risks), Cox (Alpine Princess, Denim and Pearls, Emery, Ghalia Princess, Gin Gin, Impel, Ms Quality Control, Tarifa, West Omaha, West Sunset), and Todd Pletcher (Braid, Camera, Candied, Encourageeachother, Leslie's Rose, Life Talk, Miss Justify, Princess Vino, Rumours Have It, Scalable) are each represented by 10 nominees. Pletcher has saddled four Oaks winners - Ashado, 2004; Rags to Riches, 2007; Princess of Sylmar, 2013; and Malathaat, 2021. His next win will put him into a tie with Woody Stephens and Wayne Lukas for the most all-time with five. Lukas himself has seven nominations this year (Happy Talk, lady Moscato, lemon Muffin, Nuit Magique, Saratoga Secret, Scenic Beauty, Social Affair).

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.