Churchill Downs 🏇🏾// Fri., May 2, 2025

Happy Friday & Sauvignon Blanc Day!

WE MADE IT! That's right, the day we have been discussing since November is finally here, and we are very excited to be watching and capping the ponies for Oaks Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. It is the penultimate day of racing as we prep for the Kentucky Derby, but do not look past this fantastic card. Today is a day to wear pink to celebrate the ladies of racing and watch some of the best racing you will see all year on the undercard while waiting in anticipation for the top three-year-old fillies in the world! Mr. W has provided a quick write-up on the history of the race below.

Today's card has 13 total races, seven of those being stakes races, and of course, the featured race is in the 11th, the Longines Kentucky Oaks. There is a great matchup today in the sixth race where former Derby trail, and Breeders' Cup Juvenile foes Fierceness and Locked will face off once again. This is one of the top races on the day, but it will not compare to the hype of the Oaks, no matter what Mike Repole and Netflix say. The Kentucky Oaks is a 1 & 1/8 mile route on the dirt for three-year-old fillies and has a purse of $1,500,000. To gain entry into this race, each horse had to go down the prep race trail, just like the Derby, and land in the top 14 to have a spot in the starting gate. Unfortunately, we had one horse scratch due to illness already so we are down to 13 runners today but we wish Five G a speedy recovery and appreciate her connections not pushing her to run just because of what race this is. Athlete safety should always be number one, and we respect the decision.

Today's favorite is the undefeated Good Cheer, who will leave the gate from post 10 wearing saddle cloth 11. For those who do not know, when a horse scratches, any horses outside of her slide down one gate position prior to post time. Good Cheer has shown promise since she took to the track in August of last year, breaking her maiden by 8 & 1/4 lengths. She was immediately shipped to Churchill Downs (CD) to run six weeks later, where she won by 17 lengths. After two strong showings, her connections decided to try her in a $200k stake race, and she did not disappoint, winning by 4 &3/4 lengths. Her road to the Kentucky Oaks began with a win in the Golden Rod, a Grade 2 stakes at CD. She went on to win two of the biggest prep races, both at Fairgrounds, to solidify her as the top three year old in this year's class. With an average victory of seven lengths per race, Good Cheer is a best bet for us today as we see a horse who could breeze to victory and never look back.

Today's weather will be up and down as we had more rain in the area and today will see more thunderstorms. We will see highs in the mid 70s with cloudy skies. Even though the weather is ever changing, the track has been rated fast the turf is rated firm. Best of luck today and be on the look out for more on X today as we finalize our plays.

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The Kentucky Oaks was established in 1875 by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the same year as the Kentucky Derby; it is one of the oldest continuously run sporting events in the United States. Initially contested over 1½ miles, the race has undergone several distance changes, settling at its current 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) in 1982.​

Traditionally run on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks is the most attended horse race in the U.S. after the Triple Crown races. The event is renowned for its "Lilies for the Fillies" tradition, where the winner is draped with a garland of lilies and the presentation of the silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy. In recent years, the race has also become a platform for breast cancer awareness, with attendees participating in a "Pink Out" by wearing pink attire.​

Notable records in the Kentucky Oaks include Bird Town's fastest time of 1:48.64 in 2003 and Rachel Alexandra's largest winning margin of 20¼ lengths in 2009. The race continues to be a significant event in American horse racing, celebrating the achievements of young fillies and contributing to the sport's rich history.

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Need help picking winners? We've got you covered! Our (Always Free) Lundin Line's top picks and best bets are below. We use them to help narrow the field while putting our tickets together. The first post will be here soon, so don't be late -

It's time to get #InTheMoney! 💰💰💰

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Churchill Downs 🏇🏾 // Fri., May 2nd, 2025

First Post @ 11:00 EDT/ 8:00 (PDT)

R1: 3-4-6-1

R2: 9-4-6-7

R3: 11-1-14(AE)-12-6

R4: 3-10-7-5

R5Ⓢ: 7-8-5-2

R6Ⓢ: 4-3-5

🏇R7Ⓢ: 2⭑-4-7

R8Ⓢ: 7-8-2-3

R9Ⓢ: 7-5-9-11

R10Ⓢ: 9-4-5-6

🏇R11Ⓢ: 11*-7-10-2-9

Fink: 11-10-7-14-6

Mr W: 11-2-7-9-10

R12: 5-7-9-10

R13: 10-7-3-11

🏇 = Featured Race(s)

⭑Best Bet(s)

R7: Torpedo Anna (#2)

R11: Good Cheer (#11)

Ⓢtakes Races

R5: 600K Edgewood S. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles on Turf for Fillies, 3 Yrs. Old

R6: 750K Alysheba S. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for 4 Yrs. Olds & Up

🏇R7: 1 Mil. Fasig-Tipton La Troienne S. (G1)

1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for Fillies & Mares 4 Yrs. Old & Up

R8: 400K Modesty S. (G3)

1 1/8 Miles on Turf for Fillies & Mares 4 Yrs. Old & Up

R9: 600K Eight Belles S. (G2)

7 Furlongs on Dirt for Fillies, 3 Yrs. Old

R10: 400K Unbridled Sidney S. (G3)

5 1/2 Furlongs on Turf for Fillies & Mares 3 Yrs. Old & Up

🏇R11: 1.5 Mil. Longines KY Oaks (G1)

1 1/8 Miles on Dirt for Fillies, 3 Yrs. Old

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Photo from our friends at Days of The Year

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/ As always, please forgive any typos and grammatical errors