Kentucky Oaks 2017: Full race video highlights

Full race highlights for the 2017 Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 5 from Churchill Downs

Ideal race conditions were not on the docket on Saturday, May 5 for the 2017 Kentucky Oaks. After a ton of rain in the area, there was plenty of mud throughout the track, setting things up for a different race than possibly expected. The question going into the race, though, was whether or not the conditions would ultimately effect the favorites.

Coming into the 2017 Kentucky Oaks, Paradise Woods was the favorite by a heavy margin, being dominant among the three-year-old fillies in the field. Behind her, though, was Farrell, but by a wide margin. Following them as the only filly in the field was Miss Sky Warrior as the third favorite of the bunch.

As the race started, it was indeed two of those three taking the lead as Miss Sky Warrior and Paradise Woods were far out in front of the rest of the field. Be it because of the track conditions or perhaps from too hot of a start and not making a late push, their lead faded. It was then Daddy’s Little Darling that started to make them pay for setting such a breakneck pace early.

Following Daddy’s Little Darling, though, came a blazing Abel Tasman down the stretch. Though not a longshot (fourth best odds at post time) it was a surprise to a degree, but she won with relative ease when it was all said and done:

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That was definitely a surprise in the 2017 Kentucky Oaks, but that’s what happens when you have a track in these type of conditions. It’s also what happens when you have the favorites setting the exact wrong pace for this type of race. Regardless, congratulations to Bob Baffert and Abel Tasman for their run on Saturdy to get the lillies for the fillies as the winner of the Kentucky Oaks.