The fun starts on Friday at Churchill Downs as over 100,000 will head out to the track a day before the Run for the Roses to wager on an outstanding 13-race betting card.
The highlight of the day is the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (G1), which drew a full field of 14 three-year-old fillies.
The Oaks is one of six stakes races on the card and features a showdown between Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner Midnight Bisou and Ashland (G1) winner Monomoy Girl.
For the first time ever, last year’s Derby and Oaks winners are back in action at Churchill Downs on the same day a year later. Both Derby winner Always Dreaming and Oaks winner Abel Tasman are on stakes on undercards.
Always Dreaming faces seven foes in the $400,000 Alysheba (G2). The colt makes his second start of the year. He was second in the Hardacre Mile (G2) at Gulfstream Park in his first start off the layoff.
Last year’s Oaks winner Abel Tasman will be a short price taking on seven rivals in the $350,000 La Troienne (G1). The filly makes her first start since running a game second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) last fall at Del Mar.
Here are a couple of longshots to look at on Friday’s card:
Race 7 The Twin Spires Turf Sprint
Latent Revenge (15-1) set the early fractions in this race last year at 23-1 over good ground and could not hold off Green Mask late, settling for the runner-up spot. He did not do much in his next four starts and was put on the shelf.
He returned in a tough spot in the Shakertown (G2) last out at Keeneland where he set the early fractions and tired to finish fifth over soft footing. He owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and should be tighter second off the bench. He may not win but he should have the lead when they head for home at a generous price.
Race 11 The Kentucky Oaks
My Miss Lilly (10-1) has the best shot of breaking up a chalky exacta. The filly was a game winner of the Gazelle (G2) last out at the Aqueduct at nine furlongs. She has moved forward speed figure wise with each start and with the added ground.
Another move forward puts her right in the mix here and her 10-1 morning line looks fair enough. She was a $670,000 Keeneland purchase, out of the stakes winner Wicked Deed ($85,560) who has dropped three other winners including stakes winner Just Wicked ($208,460).
Race 12 Maiden Special Weight
Actress On Board (10-1) makes her ninth career start here and she has landed in the money in five of her outings. She has caught off tracks in four of her last five starts and last fall she was a good third at Keeneland and second at Fair Grounds over fast tracks.
Last out in the slop at Keeneland she tracked the early pace and flattened out in the stretch in a third-place finish. She does have a decent off-track pedigree and there is some rain in the forecast. She is out of a Posse mare that has dropped two other foals to race, no winners to date. She gets a jock upgrade from the seven-pound bug to Saez and should be a decent price.