Kentucky Oaks 2017 field

Here’s a full list of the 2017 Kentucky Oaks field as the horses prepare for Friday’s race. 

The Kentucky Oaks will be held on Friday, May 5 this year. It’s traditionally held the day before the more famous Kentucky Derby. While it’s not as glamorous as the start of the Triple Crown season, it’s still a very important race. The biggest difference between the Oaks and the Derby is the former is exclusively for fillies (or female horses) while the latter includes colts, geldings (male horses) and fillies. In theory, a filly can race in the Kentucky Derby, but it’s fairly rare because females and males are often separated.

Another difference between the two races is the length. While the Derby is 1.25 miles long, the Oaks is slightly shorter at 1.125 miles. The distance has been this since 1982. From 1920 to 1941, it was 1.125 miles. However, from 1942 to 1981, it was 1 1/16 miles. Bird Town, the 2003 winner, holds the record for the 1 1/8 mile race with a time of 1:48.64.

Here’s a full list of the fillies who will be racing in the 2017 Kentucky Oaks.

Mike Smith is the most recent jockey on the list to win an Oaks, having done so in 2013. No other jockey on this list has won at the event, though several have done so at the Kentucky Derby or one of the Triple Crown races. The favorite to win is Paradise Woods, listed at 5-2 odds. At slightly better odds (9-2) is Miss Sky Warrior. Abel Tasman and Farrell each have 5-1 odds to win. Salty is the lone other horse to have better than 10-1 odds, at 6-1.

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While the Oaks isn’t quite as exciting as the Derby, it’s still one of the most popular horse races in America. It’s also the most popular race for exclusively fillies. The Oaks are a great way to kick off what might be the best weekend for horse racing.