Bovada Horse Racing Futures Watch: Kentucky Oaks Update

Big Kentucky Oaks Qualifying Weekend

Given that earning 40 points in the Oaks qualifying series has been enough to grab a spot in the 14-filly Oaks lineup in the past couple of years, a win in almost any of the last dozen or so races on the qualifying schedule should be enough for any filly to make the field. 

Going into this weekend's racing action, only one filly has passed that mark, with Monomy Girl earning 50 points from her win in the (G2) Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds back on February 17. That effort was enough to move her into second place on the Bovada future odds board where she can be had today at odds of 8-1.

A winner of four of five lifetime starts, she already has a pair of wins and a runner-up finish on the Churchill dirt track, a very positive handicapping angle. She'll likely get her final prep in the (G1) Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 7, where she'll very likely be the favorite. 

Fly So High Just Starting Her Oaks Journey

Sitting just behind her at odds of 10-1 in the futures is Fly So High, this despite the fact she has yet to run in any of the Oaks qualifiers. She most recently came from off the pace to win going away in an allowance-level race at Gulfstream Park, and while that effort gives a hint of promise, it would be tough to justify making a bet on her until we see how she does in stakes-level racing. That chance may come as soon as this weekend in the (G3) Davona Dale at Gulfstream.

Another on the possibles list for the Davona Dale is Take Charge Paula, current 12-1 at Bovada in the Oaks futures. She has won her last three races overall, the last two of which were at Gulfstream, including the (G3) Forward Gal Stakes, where she stalked just off a very solid pace through to the 3/4-mile mark and then finished very strong to win by more than 3 lengths over a good field. Of those mentioned here so far, she could be the biggest overlay and deserves serious consideration as a future bet option. 

Competitive Race Taking Shape in California

There is Kentucky Oaks qualifying out in California this weekend as well, with the running of the (G3) Santa Ysabel, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Santa Anita dirt. Heading the list of probable starters for the race is Dream Tree, who is an unbeaten four-for-four in her young career for trainer Bob Baffert. Those wins include the (G1) Starlet Stakes and the (G2) Las Virgenes Stakes, the two races where she picked up the 20 Oaks qualifying points that have her sitting in fourth spot on the Oaks leaderboard. She's tied with Fly So High at Bovada at 10-1. 

Also likely to start the Santa Ysabel and trying to move up the leaderboard is Midnight Bisou, who grabbed 10 points by winning the (G2) Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita on January 7. It was her maiden win after two earlier runner-up finishes, and she showed lots of professionalism for a young filly when she was shuffled back early after breaking well from the gate, and then was forced to race four-wide for most of the race before getting down on the rail and taking over in the stretch drive to win by 4 1/2 lengths. If you were impressed with that effort, she's available at Bovada at a very generous 20-1. 

Check back later in the week for a full preview of the above races, and check the full list of 2018 Kentucky Oaks (and 2018 Kentucky Derby) future odds at Bovada's online racebook.

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : Bovada , Horse Racing