Road to the Kentucky Oaks

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system by which three-year-old fillies qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. It features roughly 30 stakes races for 2 and 3-year-old thoroughbred fillies – the number and specific races have varied slightly over the years. The point system replaces the previous qualifying system which was based on graded stakes earnings.

Qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks

The series is divided into two phases, the Kentucky Oaks Prep Season and the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series. The prep season consists of races of one mile or longer that are run between September (when the fillies are age two) and February (when the fillies are age three). Points are awarded to the top 4 finishers in each race on a 10-4-2-1 scale.[lower-alpha 1] The championship season consists of two legs and a "wild card" round. The first leg includes minor prep races with a 50-20-10-5 scale. The second leg includes major prep races, usually Grade I, with a 100-40-20-10 scale. The "wild card" consists of one race and has a 10-4-2-1 scale.[1][2] Fillies who earn points as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby will be credited with them as part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

If more than 14 horses wish to enter the Kentucky Oaks, positions will be reserved for the top 14 point earners from the qualifying series. If any of the top 14 does not enter the Oaks, their position is given to the next ranked horses on the list. Up to 18 horses may enter the race, with the bottom four point-earners listed as "also eligible". If any of the top 14 is scratched after entries are taken but before betting begins, the next ranked horse on the also eligible list will be eligible to run.

If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreaker to get into the race will be earnings in non-restricted stakes races, whether or not they are graded. In the event of a tie, those horses will divide equally the points they would have received jointly had one beaten the other.[1][2]

To be eligible to run in the Kentucky Oaks, a filly must earn sufficient points via the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and the owner must pay certain fees: specifically, a nomination fee, an entry fee and a starter fee. For example, in 2016 the nomination fee was $200 which was to be paid by February 20, 2016. If the February date was missed, a late nomination fee of $1,500 could be paid by April 13, 2013. In addition, owners with qualifying horses were required to pay $5,000 to enter the Oaks, and an additional $5,000 to start. If a qualifying horse was not nominated in either January or March, it could be supplemented to the Oaks for $30,000.[3]

History

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks was created in 2012 as a companion race season to the Road to the Kentucky Derby season series. The point system was created to establish a "clear, practical and understandable path" to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, according to the official website of Churchill Downs. The previous graded stakes earning criteria was poorly understood by the public, based on a poll conducted by Churchill Downs which showed 83% of respondents stating they did not understand how horses became starters for the race.

2013 season standings

The 2013 season consisted of 35 races, 20 races for the Kentucky Oaks Prep Season and 15 races for the Kentucky Oaks Championship Season.[1][2]

Beholder was the leading qualifier for the 2013 Oaks, having earned a total of 164 points by winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (10 points), Las Virgenes (50 points) and Santa Anita Oaks (100 points), plus a 2nd-place finish in the Santa Ynez (4 points). She would finish second in the race[4] to Princess of Sylmar, who qualified with 50 points.

Note:[6]

2014 season standings

The number of races was originally reduced to 29 for the 2014 season (15 prep races and 14 championship season races).[7] Due to a scheduling change of Las Virgenes, the Santa Ysabel replaced its spot in the first leg of the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series. The Las Virgenes was then added as a Kentucky Oaks Prep Season race bringing the total number of races in the entire series to 30.[8]

Untapable was both the leading qualifier for and winner of the 2014 Oaks. Untapable earned a total of 160 points by winning the Pocahontas (10 points), Rachel Alexandra (50 points) and Fair Grounds Oaks (100 points).[9]

Notes
  1. Lucky for You and Empress of Midway finished in a dead heat and are each awarded 15 points.
  2. Rosalind and Room Service finished in a dead heat and are each awarded 70 points.

2015 season standings

The 2015 season consisted of 31 races, 17 for the Kentucky Oaks Prep Season and 14 for the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series. Condo Commando was the leading qualifier with 161 points, earned by winning the Demoiselle (10 points), Busher (50 points) and Gazelle (100 points), plus a fourth-place finish in the Frizette. I'm a Chatterbox also finished with 161 points, earned by winning the Silverbulletday (10 points), Rachel Alexandra (50 points) and Fair Grounds Oaks (100 points), plus finishing fourth in the Golden Rod (1 point). The Oaks was won by Lovely Maria, who qualified with 120 points, earned by winning the Ashland Stakes (100 points) and finishing second in the Rachel Alexandra (20 points).

2016 series standings

For the 2016 series, the points awarded to the top 4 finishers of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies were doubled to a 20-8-4-2 basis. Otherwise the series was supposed to remain the same as 2015, with 31 total races.[76][77] However, due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus at Sunland Parks, the Sunland Park Oaks was not run, reducing the number of races to 30.[78]

Songbird was the highest ranked filly with 190 points, earned by winning the Chandelier (10 points), Juvenile Fillies (20 points), Las Virgenes (10 points), Santa Ysabel (50 points) and Santa Anita Oaks (100 points). She would have been the heavy favorite for the Oaks but developed a fever and did not race.[79]

Cathryn Sophia, the winner of the 2016 Oaks, qualified for the race with 80 points, earned by winning the Forward Gal Stakes (10 points) and Davona Dale Stakes (50 points) plus finishing 3rd in the Ashland (20 points).[80]

2016 point standings
Rank Horse Points Owner Trainer Earnings Ref
--- Songbird 190 Rick Porter Jerry Hollendorfer $2,720,000 [81]
1 Terra Promessa 150 Stonestreet Stables Steven Asmussen $370,000 [3][81]
2 Lewis Bay 130 Alpha Delta Stables Chad Brown $575,600 [3][81]
3 Land Over Sea 128 Reddam Racing Doug O'Neill $604,500 [3][81]
4 Go Maggie Go 100 Mike Tarp Dale Romans $399,400 [3][81]
5 Weep No More 100 Ashbrook Farm George Arnold $395,000 [3][81]
6 Cathryn Sophia 80 Cash Is King John Servis $1,079,720 [3][81]
7 Mo d'Amour 70 King of Prussia Stable Todd Pletcher $196,100 [3][81]
--- Polar River 50 Bukhtoyarov and Kappushev Doug Watson $700,000 [81]
8 Mokat 50 J K Racing Richard Baltas $260,000 [3][81]
9 Venus Valentine 50 Rosemont Farm Thomas Amoss $142,275 [3][81]
--- Wonderment 50 Magdalena Racing Kenneth McPeek $58,660 [81]
10 Rachel's Valentina 48 Stonestreet Stables Todd Pletcher $689,000 [3][81]
11 Royal Obsession 45 Stonestreet Stable Steven Asmussen $78,000 [3][81]
12 Dream Dance 44 Stoneway Farm Neil Howard $158,486 [81]
--- Nickname 40 LNJ Foxwoods Steve Asmussen $469,400 [81]
13 Paola Queen 40 Grupo 7C Racing Gustavo Delgado $389,000 [3][81]
14 Taxable 40 Winchell Thoroughbreds Steven Asmussen $90,000 [3][81]
--- Carina Mia 20 Three Chimneys Farm William Mott $799,320 [81]
15 Dothraki Queen 20 Magdalena Racing Kenneth McPeek $447,806 [3][81]

2017 series

Churchill Downs announced the schedule for the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Oaks on September 13, 2016. The only change from the 2016 season is that the Mazarine Stakes is no longer included, bringing the total number of races down to 30.[111]

Standings

Updated November 8, 2016.

2017 point standings
Rank Horse Points Owner Trainer Earnings[lower-alpha 2][112] Ref
1 Champagne Room 21 Ciaglia, Gulliver Racing et al. Peter Eurton $1,274,000 [113]
2 Daddys Lil Darling 16 Normandy Farm Kenneth McPeek $299,040 [114]
3 Dancing Rags 10 Chadds Ford Stable H. Graham Motion $260,000 [115]
4 Yellow Agate 10 China Horse Club Christophe Clement $240,345 [116]
5 Noted and Quoted 10 Speedway Stable Bob Baffert $218,000 [113]
6 Valadorna 8 Stonestreet Stables Mark Casse $340,000 [117]
7 American Gal 4 Kaleem Shah Bob Baffert $180,000 [117]
8 With Honors 4 LNJ Foxwoods J. Keith Desormeaux $120,345 [113]
9 Libby's Tail 4 Dubb, Taylor et al. Rudy Rodriguez $90,000 [116]
10 Ever So Clever 4 Clearview stable Steven Asmussen $44,400 [114]
11 Fun 2 Dennis Farkas Ian Wilkes $87,500 [115]
12 Bling on the Music 2 Keene Thoroughbreds J. Caldwell $84,200 [114]
13 Colorful Charades 2 Michael Ryan Rudy Rodriguez $40,345 [116]
14 Zapperkat 2 J K Racing & Chandler Bruce Richard Baltas $36,000 [113]
15 Nonna Mela 1 St. Elias Stable Todd Pletcher $140,000 [116]
16 Caroline Test 1 Seltzer and Anderson Ben Colebrook $102,900 [115]
17 Dream Dancing 1 John Oxley Mark Casse $21,600 [114]

Race Results

Kentucky Oaks prep season
Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Pocahontas 1-1/16 miles $200,000 Churchill Downs Sep 17, 2016 Daddys Lil Darling Ever So Clever Bling On the Music Dream Dancing [114]
Chandelier 1-1/16 miles $300,000 Santa Anita Oct 1, 2016 Noted and Quoted With Honers Zapperkat Champagne Room [113]
Alcibiades 1-1/16 miles $400,000 Keeneland Oct 7, 2016 Dancing Rags Daddys Lil Darling Fun Caroline Test [115]
Frizette 1-mile $400,000 Belmont Oct 8, 2016 Yellow Agate Libby's Tail Colorful Charades Nonna Mela [116]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies 1-1/16 miles $2,000,000 Santa Anita Nov 5, 2016 Champagne Room Valdorna American Gal Daddys Lil Darling [117]
Delta Downs Princess 1-mile $400,000 Delta Downs Nov 19, 2016
Demoiselle 1-1/8 miles $300,000 Aqueduct Nov 26, 2016
Golden Rod 1-1/16 miles $200,000 Churchill Downs Nov 26, 2016
Starlet 1-1/16 miles $300,000 Los Alamitos Dec 10, 2016
Santa Ynez 6-1/2 furlongs $125,000 Santa Anita Jan 7, 2017
Busanda 1-mile 70 yards $100,000 Aqueduct Jan 21, 2017
Silverbulletday 1-mile 70 yards $125,000 Fair Grounds Jan 21, 2017
Forward Gal 7-furlongs $200,000 Gulfstream Feb 4, 2017
Las Virgenes 1-mile $300,000 Santa Anita Feb 4, 2017
Martha Washington 1-mile $100,000 Oaklawn Feb 11, 2017
Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point
Kentucky Oaks Championship Series
First leg of series
Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Rachel Alexandra 1-1/16 miles $200,000 Fair Grounds Feb 25, 2017
Busher 1- 1/16 miles $125,000 Aqueduct Feb. 25, 2017
Davona Dale 1-1/16 miles $200,000 Gulfstream Mar 4, 2017
UAE Oaks 1-3/16 miles $250,000 Meydan Mar 4, 2017
Santa Ysabel 1-1/16 miles $100,000 Santa Anita Mar 4, 2017
Honeybee 1-1/16 miles $200,000 Oaklawn Mar 11, 2017
Bourbonette Oaks 1-mile $100,000 Turfway Mar 25, 2017
Sunland Park Oaks 1-1/16 miles $200,000 Sunland Mar 26, 2017
Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=10 points; 4th=5 points
Second leg of series
Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Gulfstream Oaks 1-1/8 miles $300,000 Gulfstream Apr 1, 2017
Fair Grounds Oaks 1-1/16 miles $500,000 Fair Grounds Apr 1, 2017
Ashland 1-1/16 miles $500,000 Keeneland Apr 8, 2017
Santa Anita Oaks 1-1/16 miles $400,000 Santa Anita Apr 8, 2017
Gazelle 1-mile $300,000 Aqueduct Apr 8, 2017
Fantasy 1-1/16 miles $400,000 Oaklawn Apr 14, 2017
Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=40 points; 3rd=20 points; 4th=10 points
"Wild Card"
Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Beaumont 7-furlongs $150,000 Keeneland Apr 16, 2017
Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 points
Notes
  1. Starting with the 2016 series, the points for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies are doubled
  2. Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings, used as a tie-breaker

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Churchill Downs Refines 'Road to the Kentucky Derby', Oaks with Point System
  2. 1 2 3 Road to Kentucky Derby will be less complex in 2013
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Equibase. "2016 Kentucky Oaks Entries and Past Performances" (PDF). bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  4. "Beholder Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Road 2013 Horse-races.net
  6. http://www.horse-races.net/library/tc13/20130105%20Road%20to%20the%20Kentucky%20Oaks.pdf
  7. 2013-14 ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY OAKS
  8. Important Schedule Change
  9. "Untapable Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 2014 points standings April 29, 2014
  11. 1 2 2014 Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard
  12. "Euphrosyne out of Oaks, Sweet Reason now qualifies"
  13. No Stopping Untapable In Pocahontas Victory
  14. Secret Compass Lights Up Chandelier
  15. My Conquestadory Brilliant In Alcibiades
  16. Madly Truly Scores Breakthrough In Mazarine
  17. New York-Bred Artemis Agrotera Rules Frizette
  18. Ria Antonia Placed First In Juvenile Fillies
  19. Tepin Posts Mild Delta Princess Surprise
  20. Vexed Shows Grit In Winning Golden Rod
  21. Favorite Stopchargingmaria Wins Demoiselle
  22. Fierce Boots Stamps Busanda Stakes Upset
  23. Awesome Baby Goes All The Way In Santa Ynez
  24. Unbridled Forever Solid In Silverbulletday
  25. Onlyforyou Takes Command In Forward Gal
  26. Aragorn Ami Takes Stakes Bow in Martha Washington
  27. Joint Return Posts Last To First Upset Of Busher
  28. Fashion Plate Wire-To-Wire In Las Virgenes
  29. Untapable Cruises In Rachel Alexandra
  30. Onlyforyou Remains Unbeaten In Davona Dale
  31. Ihtimal Romps To 10-Length UAE Oaks Win
  32. Awesome Baby Splashes To Santa Ysabel Tally
  33. Euphrosyne Elevated To Honeybee Victory
  34. Aurelia's Belle Dances Away In Bourbonette
  35. Awesome Baby Wins Sunland Oaks With Authority
  36. In Tune in Rhythm in Gulfstream Oaks Win
  37. Untapable Unstoppable in Fair Grounds Oaks
  38. Rosalind Rooms Service DH Ashland Winners
  39. Fashion Plate Serves Up Santa Anita Oaks Win
  40. My Miss Sophia Romps In Gazelle
  41. Sugar Shock Surely Best In Fantasy Stakes
  42. 2014 point standings
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
  44. "Chart for the 2015 Kentucky Oaks". equibase.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  45. Cristina's Journey All the Way in Pocahontas
  46. Angela Renee Dominant in Chandelier Stakes
  47. Peace and War Aces U.S. Debut in Alcibiades
  48. By the Moon Upsets Frizette at 24-1
  49. Conquest Harlanate Overpowers Mazarine Foes
  50. Take Charge Brandi Shocks Juvenile Fillies
  51. Take Charge Brandi Takes Down Delta Princess
  52. Patience Pays Off as Condo Commando Romps
  53. West Coast Belle Rolls to Golden Rod Win
  54. Take Charge Brandi Wires Starlet Thriller
  55. Seduire Scampers to Easy Santa Ynez Victory
  56. Overprepared stretches out for Busanda win
  57. I'm a Chatterbox wires Silverbulletday
  58. Birdatthewire Soars to Easy Forward Gal Win
  59. Take Charge Brandi makes Martha Washington interesting
  60. Callback Rings Up Victory in Las Virgenes
  61. Condo Commando easily wins Busher
  62. Longshot Ekati's Phaeton Wires Devona Dale
  63. I'm a Chatterbox Takes Rachel Alexandra
  64. Local Time Continues Meydan Dominance
  65. Stellar Wind Sails to Santa Ysabel Victory
  66. Sarah Sis gets first stakes win in Honeybee
  67. Don't Leave Me Flies Late in Bourbonette Win
  68. Callback's DQ gives Sunland Oaks win to stablemate Maybellene
  69. Birdatthewire Tops Familiar Rivals in GP Oaks
  70. I'm a Chatterbox Notches Easy FG Oaks Victory
  71. Stellar Wind Rolls in Santa Anita Oaks
  72. 'Condo' in Command in Gazelle
  73. Lovely Maria Claims First Stakes in Ashland
  74. Include Betty Goes Last to First in Fantasy
  75. Miss Ella Steps Up to Beaumont Victory
  76. "BC Juvenile Points Doubled on Road to Derby". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  77. "2016 Derby / Oaks Schedule" (PDF). bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  78. 1 2 "Sunland Park Cancels Derby, Oaks". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  79. "Top filly Songbird out of Kentucky Oaks with fever". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  80. "Cathryn Sophia - 2016 Oaks". www.kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  81. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Road to the Kentucky Oaks 2016". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  82. "Chart 2015 Pocahontas". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  83. "Chart 2015 Chandelier". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  84. "Chart 2015 Alcibiades". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  85. "Chart 2015 Frizette". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  86. "Chart 2015 Mazarine". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  87. "Chart 2015 Juvenile Fillies". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  88. "Chart 2015 Princess". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  89. "Chart 2015 Demoiselle". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  90. "Chart 2015 Golden Rod". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  91. "Chart 2015 Starlet". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  92. "Chart 2016 Santa Ynez". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  93. "Chart 2016 Silverbulletday". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  94. "Chart 2016 Busanda". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  95. "Chart 2016 Forward Gal". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  96. "Chart 2016 Las Virgenes". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  97. "Chart 2016 Martha Washington". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  98. "Chart 2016 Rachel Alexandra". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  99. "Chart 2016 Busher". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  100. "Chart 2016 Davona Dale". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  101. "Chart 2016 Santa Ysabel". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  102. "Chart 2016 Honeybee". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  103. "Chart 2016 Bourbonette". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  104. "Chart 2016 Fair Ground Oaks". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  105. "Chart 2016 Gulfstream Oaks". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  106. "Chart 2016 Ashland". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  107. "Chart 2016 Santa Anita Oaks". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  108. "Chart 2016 Gazelle". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  109. "Chart 2016 Fantasy". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  110. "Chart 2016 Beaumont". equibase. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  111. "Sam F. Davis Joins 'Road to Kentucky Derby'". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  112. "2017 Kentucky Oaks Horses". www.kentuckyderby.com.
  113. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chart of the 2016 Chandelier". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  114. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chart of the 2016 Pocahontas". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  115. 1 2 3 4 "Chart of the 2016 Alcibiades". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  116. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chart of the 2016 Frizette". equibase.com.
  117. 1 2 3 "Chart of the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies". Equibase.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.

External links

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