Kentucky Oaks Betting 2025
The Kentucky Oaks is one of the best betting races of the year. The race has been run at Churchill Downs every year since 1875, and usually takes place in early May. This year’s race was held on Friday, May 2, 2025. The best three-year-old fillies in the country race for a purse of $1,500,000 and the iconic blanket of lilies: Lilies for the Fillies.
Tens of thousands of spectators visit the track for the Oaks and millions more watch the race from off the track. Just as with the Kentucky Derby, people bet millions of dollars on the Kentucky Oaks every year. With such large pools and a competitive field of up to 14 3-year-old thoroughbred horses, it is a great opportunity to make money.
Congratulations to Thorpedo Anna on winning last year’s Longines Kentucky Oaks, which was the 150th edition of this historic race!
Kentuckians be like “OMG I needed this” and it’s just a morning at @ChurchillDowns to watch the horses 🥰 pic.twitter.com/t0ZN1GH5wB
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 30, 2025
Kentucky Oaks Betting Sites
You no longer need to go to the racetrack or to an off-track betting parlor to bet the Kentucky Oaks. Millions of people enjoy the convenience of betting the Kentucky Oaks, the Kentucky Derby, and the Triple Crown from anywhere they can connect to the Internet.
These are the best sites for Kentucky Oaks betting:
Las Vegas Kentucky Oaks Odds
Kentucky Oaks odds can change as race day at Churchill Downs gets closer. These changes can be based on what they do in prep races as well as how observers think they are doing based on their gallops and works. They can even fluctuate based on how other horses are doing, since good news about another horse might mean the horse you like gets ignored by bettors, and sportsbooks start offering a higher price.
Kentucky Oaks Betting Odds Explained
When betting the Kentucky Oaks, you may see the odds presented in any one of three common formats. Refer to this handy guide, and you’ll know exactly what odds a sportsbook is offering you.
- American (+350): This format, like in American-style sports betting money lines, reflects how much money you will win on top of your stake if you bet $100 on the horse. So, if you bet $1 on a horse at +350 odds, you will win $3.50 plus get back your stake, for a total of $4.50.
- Fractional (7-2 or 7/2): This format mirrors what you will see in programs or on tote boards at an American racetrack. It reflects, in fractional form, how much you will win on top of your stake if your bet comes in. If you wager $1 on a horse at 7-2 odds, you will win $3.50 and also get back the $1 you wagered, for a total of $4.50.
- Decimal (4.50): This format, popular in Europe, represents what you get back if your horse wins per dollar that you bet, including your stake. So, if you bet $1 on a horse at 4.50 odds, you get back $4.50. That sum includes your initial bet plus the $3.50 profit from your horse winning.
Best Sites for Kentucky Oaks Betting
With so many online sportsbooks to choose from, selecting the best site to play the Kentucky Oaks can be difficult. However, our betting experts have done the research. They have evaluated the best online sportsbooks and made their recommendations based on who has the best odds, features, and bonuses.
These are the best sportsbooks for betting the Kentucky Oaks. These sportsbooks all have trusted payouts and excellent Kentucky Oaks markets, and it is a good idea to sign up for more than one to make it as easy as possible to compare odds and make the most profitable moves when betting the Kentucky Oaks. They will also be excellent options for Kentucky Derby betting, Breeders’ Cup betting, as well as horse race betting and sports betting throughout the year.
Why We Choose These Sites
Though there is always an element of chance in betting, you do not want to take a chance with where you place your bets. You want a sportsbook that you can trust to be easy to use, give you the best Kentucky Oaks betting odds, and offer the best bonuses.
Our experts have evaluated many online sportsbooks and identified trustworthy betting sites that give you the best Vegas odds while also being easy to use and offering great benefits to their players. You can sign up for these sportsbooks and be confident that they will make your Kentucky Oaks betting experience as fun and profitable as possible!
Best Apps for Kentucky Oaks Betting
For horse racing bettors who typically access the internet or their sportsbooks via their mobile devices, it is important to consider which sportsbooks have the best mobile betting apps. This normally requires have special design for the new smaller screen and swiping.
You can check out our full guide to finding the best mobile betting apps. Some of them require a download, while others do not. Whatever you are looking for, our guide will help you make the best choice for your horse racing mobile app.
Kentucky Oaks Betting Tips
When handicapping and deciding how to bet on the Kentucky Oaks, keep these things in mind:
Distance Ability
The Kentucky Oaks is a one and one eighth mile race. Most horses who run in the Oaks have not gone that distance before, but when handicapping the race there are a few ways to judge how they may handle the distance.
Look at their prep race form. Have they gotten better as the races have gotten longer, or have they earned most of their points in shorter races and disappointed in longer races? Kentucky Oaks’ best bets tend to be horses who have improved as distances have gotten longer.
Pedigree can also provide clues for betting the Kentucky Oaks. If a horse’s sire frequently produces horses who do well at nine furlongs and their dam has produced foals with that kind of stamina, you can have more confidence about betting that horse in the Kentucky Oaks.
Prep Races
Some sequences of prep races produce more Kentucky Oaks winners than others.
In recent years, the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and the Ashland Stakes (G1) have been excellent sources of Kentucky Oaks winners. The Fair Grounds Oaks has produced winners including Untapable, Believe You Can, and the great Rachel Alexandra. The latest Ashland winners to win the Oaks as well include Monomoy Girl and Lovely Maria. However, the Oaklawn spur of the Oaks trail is becoming more important, with 2022 winner Secret Oath coming from their races.
Even horses who do not win these races can go on to win the Oaks. In 2019, Serengeti Empress only ran seventh in the Fair Grounds Oaks but went on to win the Kentucky Oaks.
Running Style
Most Kentucky Oaks winners have tactical speed. Though they do not necessarily need to lead the race from beginning to end, most winners are able to get a good stalking spot within a couple of lengths of the lead, and are able to keep the pacesetter in their sights.
This rule is not hard and fast. When betting the Kentucky Oaks, don’t be afraid to consider a horse coming from farther back if the field contains multiple horses who cannot win without setting the pace. But, unless such a torrid pace battle seems likely, give stronger consideration to horses who can set or stalk the pace.
Trainers and Jockeys
Certain trainers have developed a strong track record in the Kentucky Oaks, and their presence on the entry list often signals serious contenders. Brad Cox has emerged as a dominant force in recent years, now with three Oaks victories: Monomoy Girl (2018), Shedaresthedevil (2020), and Good Cheer (2025). Good Cheer entered the race undefeated and delivered a commanding performance, further cementing Cox’s reputation as a go-to Oaks trainer.
Another trainer to watch is Todd Pletcher, who has four career Kentucky Oaks wins. While he didn’t reach the winner’s circle in 2025, his consistent presence with quality fillies makes him a perennial factor.
On the jockey side, Luis Saez guided Good Cheer to victory in 2025, adding his name to the list of elite riders in the race’s recent history. Florent Geroux, who piloted both Monomoy Girl and Shedaresthedevil to Oaks wins, remains a top-class jockey with a proven record at Churchill Downs. Other recent winning riders include John Velazquez and Jose Ortiz, both of whom are known for their tactical skill and big-race composure.
As we look ahead to 2026, keep an eye on familiar names like Cox, Pletcher, Saez, and Geroux—but don’t be surprised if a rising star emerges from the next class of three-year-old fillies and their connections.
Kentucky Oaks Contenders
The 2025 Kentucky Oaks saw Good Cheer deliver a dominant performance to remain undefeated and claim the lilies for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Luis Saez. Entering the race with wins in both the Rachel Alexandra Stakes and the Fair Grounds Oaks, Good Cheer solidified her reputation as one of the best three-year-old fillies in recent memory. She handled the 1 1/8-mile distance with ease and proved she could fire on the big stage.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Kentucky Oaks is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2026, but it’s still far too early to lock in any predictions. The Road to the Kentucky Oaks won’t begin until later this year, and a lot can change between now and next spring. Early futures markets may start to emerge, but history shows us that top contenders can rise quickly—or disappear just as fast.
For now, keep an eye on promising two-year-old fillies breaking their maidens or winning early stakes races in the summer and fall. By the time the prep races begin in earnest, the picture will become much clearer—but the next Oaks star might already be showing flashes of brilliance.
Kentucky Oaks Best Bets
The 2026 Kentucky Oaks is still months away, and form can shift quickly as fillies develop through their two- and three-year-old seasons. That said, early bettors and racing fans will be watching for promising juvenile fillies breaking out in late summer and fall stakes races, especially at Saratoga, Del Mar, and Churchill Downs. Performances in these races often hint at who might emerge as serious contenders once the Road to the Kentucky Oaks begins later this year.
While it’s too soon to single out firm “best bets,” it’s wise to monitor fillies with strong pedigrees for distance, those under top trainers like Brad Cox or Todd Pletcher, and any who show the ability to rate and finish strongly. Futures odds may start to appear, but keep in mind they’re speculative—much will change before May 1, 2026, when the next Kentucky Oaks is run.
Kentucky Oaks Betting Resources
In addition to these betting tips focuses specifically on betting the Kentucky Oaks, read these helpful articles to learn more about how to bet on horse racing:
Sports Betting Sites