See also: Kentucky Oaks and Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks was a points system by which Thoroughbred fillies qualified for the 2018 Kentucky Oaks, held on May 4. The races were held from September 2017 (when the fillies were age two) through April 2018 (when they turned three). The top four finishers in the specified races earned points, with the highest point values awarded in the major preparatory races held in late March or early April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes acted as a tie breaker.
Fillies who instead wished to enter the Kentucky Derby had to earn the necessary points in the races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby: points earned on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks were not transferable. However, if a filly did earn qualifying points for the Derby by racing in open company, those points also counted towards qualifying for the Oaks.[1]
Churchill Downs announced the schedule for the 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks on August 31, 2017. The only changes from the 2017 season were:[2]
The Delta Princess Stakes, which would have been the 31st race in the series, was cancelled in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.[3]
The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races. Entries for the Kentucky Oaks were taken on April 30.[4] The race was won by Monomoy Girl, who qualified by winning the Rachel Alexandra and Ashland Stakes.[5]
| Rank | Horse | Points | Owner | Trainer | Eligible Earnings | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midnight Bisou | 160 | Allan Racing & Bloom Racing | William Spawr | $440,000 | |
| 2 | Monomoy Girl | 154 | Michael Dubb & Monomoy Racing | Brad H. Cox | $506,150 | |
| 3 | Sassy Sienna | 115 | Zayat Stables LLC | Brad H. Cox | $318,000 | |
| 4 | My Miss Lilly | 112 | Courtland Farms | Mark Hennig | $219,400 | |
| 5 | Chocolate Martini | 100 | Double Doors Racing, LLC | Thomas M. Amoss | $240,000 | |
| 6 | Coach Rocks | 100 | Roddy Valente, RAP Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds | Dale L. Romans | $145,700 | |
| 7 | Rayya | 90 | Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi | Doug Watson | $600,000 | |
| 8 | Wonder Gadot | 84 | Gary Barber | Mark Casse | $440,002 | |
| 9 | Eskimo Kisses | 80 | Magdalena Racing, Gainesway Stable & Harold Lerner | Kenneth G. McPeek | $180,000 | |
| 10 | Take Charge Paula | 70 | Peter Deutsch | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | $372,720 | |
| bypassing Oaks[6] | Midnight Disguise | 70 | William Wilmot & Joan Taylor | Linda Rice | $195,000 | |
| bypassing Oaks | Cosmic Burst | 62 | Norma Lee Stockseth & Todd Dunn | Donnie K. Von Hemel | $212,500 | |
| not nominated[7] | Sara Street | 60 | Godolphin Racing | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | $372,720 | |
| injured[8] | Blamed | 50 | Cleber J. Massey | Joel H. Marr | $100,000 | |
| injured[9] | Fly So High | 50 | Phipps Stable | C. R. McGaughey III | $120,280 | |
| bypassing Oaks | Thirteen Squared | 41 | Arnold Zetcher | Bob Baffert | $112,000 | |
| Amy's Challenge | 40 | Novogratz Racing Stables Inc | McLean Robertson | $200,000 | ||
| not nominated | Spectator | 40 | Rick & Sharon Waller | Phil D'Amato | $174,320 | |
| 11 | Patrona Margarita | 35 | Seltzer Thoroughbreds | W. Bret Calhoun | $174,320 | |
| 12 | Classy Act | 30 | Carl R Moore Management LLC | W. Bret Calhoun | $56,000 | |
| bypassing Oaks[10] | Caledonia Road | 24 | Zoom and Fish Stable & Charlie Spring | Ralph Nicks | $1,180,000 | |
| bypassing Oaks | Princess Warrior | 24 | Evan, Matthew and Andrew Trommer | Kenneth G. McPeek | $128,350 | |
| bypassing Oaks[11] | Dream Tree | 20 | Phoenix Thoroughbreds | Bob Baffert | $360,000 | |
| not nominated | Go Noni Go | 20 | Three Diamonds Farm | Mike Maker | $96,104 | |
| not nominated | Kram | 20 | Chris Coleman & Brad King | Todd Fincher | $89,000 | |
| Red Ruby | 15 | Sandra Sexton & Brandi Nicholson | Kellyn Gorder | $85,000 | ||
| 15 | Exuberance | 15 | Craig Upham | Ian Kruljac | $82,000 | |
| not nominated | Alluring Star | 12 | Baoma Corporation | Bob Baffert | $400,000 | |
| not nominated | Separationofpowers | 12 | Klaravich Stables | Chad Brown | $375,000 | |
| 13 | Heavenhasmynikki | 11 | Looch Racing Stables | Anthony Quartarolo | $29,100 | |
| not nominated | 10 | Bridlewood Farm, S. Magnier, D. Smith & M. Tabor | Simon Callaghan | $380,000 | ||
| Heavenly Love | 10 | Debby Oxley | Mark Casse | $245,000 | ||
| not nominated | Andina Del Sur | 10 | Don Alberto Stable | Thomas Albertrani | $134,100 | |
| Road to Victory | 10 | Gary Barber & John C. Oxley | Mark Casse | $115,230 | [12] | |
| Stronger Than Ever | 10 | Fern Circle Stables | Kenneth G. McPeek | $105,000 | ||
| Gas Station Sushi | 10 | Riley Racing, Megan & Jason Tackitt & Mike Hensen | Richard Baltas | $90,000 | ||
| Paved | 10 | Ciaglia Racing LLC & Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | Michael W. McCarthy | $60,000 | ||
| C. S. Incharge | 10 | Pacella, Jones & Shoop | Dale L. Romans | $65,000 | ||
| not nominated | Charge Back | 10 | Winchell Thoroughbreds (Joan & Ron Winchell) | Steve Asmussen | $20,000 | |
| Spring Lily | 10 | Pam & Martin Wygod | John Shirreffs | $12,000 | ||
| not nominated | Tell Your Mama | 10 | Loooch Racing Stables, Inc. | Robert B. Hess Jr. | $1,600 | |
| not nominated | Sultry | 9 | Joseph Sutton | Eddie Kenneally | $52,500 | |
| 14 | Kelly's Humor | 8 | Ike & Dawn Thrash | Brad H. Cox | $124,910 | |
| In the Mood | 8 | Stephen S. & Brenda Sandy | Stephen S. Sandy | $49,050 | ||
| not nominated | Steph Being Steph | 6 | Blinkers on Racing, Bennett, Cahee, Georgetti et al. | Brian Koriner | $108,800 | |
| not nominated | Blonde Bomber | 5 | Arindel Farm | Stanley I. Gold | $230,640 | |
| Daisy | 5 | Fox Hill Farms | John Servis | $122,500 | ||
| not nominated | Shamrock Rose | 5 | Conrad Farms | Mark Casse | $10,000 | |
| Yesterday's News | 5 | Reddam Racing | Simon Callaghan | $72,345 | ||
| Sweetsongofthenile | 5 | Ferro Trust, Meritage LLC & Connor | Ed Moger Jr. | $9,000 | ||
| not nominated | Piedi Bianchi | 4 | Nice Guys Stables, Bick & Oringer | Doug F. O'Neill | $192,000 | |
| not nominated | Bella Be Ready | 5 | Tammy Town Thoroughbreds | Henry Dominguez | $8,000 | |
| not nominated | Oldfashioned Style | 4 | Leonard Green | Gary C. Contessa | $52,000 | |
| not nominated | Maurer Power | 4 | Cash is King | John Servis | $50,000 | |
| not nominated | Maya Malibu | 2 | My Meadowview Farm | H. Graham Motion | $110,000 | |
| Sunny Skies | 2 | Normandy Farm | Kenneth G. McPeek | $83,644 | ||
| not nominated | Win the War | 2 | John C. Oxley & Gary Barber | Mark Casse | $70,992 | |
| not nominated | Dancing | 2 | Live Oak Plantation | Mark Casse | $40,000 | |
| not nominated | Cash Out | 2 | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. | George R. Arnold II | $33,600 | |
| Layla Noor | 2 | Lael Stables | Arnaud Delacour | $32,500 | ||
| Mihrab | 2 | RMJ Stables | H. Graham Motion | $16,000 | ||
| Missive | 2 | Pin Oak Stud | Michael Stidham | $15,000 | ||
| not nominated | Hail | 2 | Juddmonte Farms | William I. Mott | $10,000 | |
| not nominated | Dancing Belle | 1 | Big Chief Racing, Rocket O Ranch et al. | J. Keith Desormeaux | $76,000 | |
| not nominated | Purrfect Miss | 1 | Orlando DiRenzo & Southfield Farm | Jeremiah Englehart | $20,000 | |
| Tyfosha | 1 | Zedan Racing Stables | Doug F. O'Neill | $11,250 | ||
| Dessert Honeys | 1 | Homewrecker Racing | Eddie Kenneally | $9,300 | ||
| not nominated | Primo Extremo | 1 | Allied Racing Stable | Jason DaCosta | $9,300 | |
| not nominated | Wealth Effect | 1 | Klaravich Stables | Chad Brown | $5,000 | |
| not nominated | So Refined | 1 | Gary Broad | J. Kent Sweezey | $5,000 | |
| Kentucky Oaks prep season | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref | |
| Pocahontas | miles | $200,000 | Churchill Downs | Sep 16, 2017 | Patrona Margarita | Kelly's Humor | Sunny Skies | Primo Extremo | [13] | |
| Chandelier | miles | $300,000 | Santa Anita | Sep 30, 2017 | Moonshine Memories | Alluring Star | Piedi Bianchi | Dancing Belle | [14] | |
| Alcibiades | miles | $400,000 | Keeneland | Oct 6, 2017 | Heavenly Love | Princess Warrior | Dancing | Sassy Sienna | [15] | |
| Frizette | 1 mile | $400,000 | Belmont | Oct 8, 2017 | Separationofpowers | Caledonia Road | Maya Malibu | Purrfect Miss | [16] | |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | miles | $2,000,000 | Santa Anita | Nov 4, 2017 | Caledonia Road | Alluring Star | Blonde Bomber | Separationofpowers | [17] | |
| Delta Downs Princess | 1 mile | $400,000 | Delta Downs | Nov 18, 2017 | cancelled | |||||
| Golden Rod | miles | $200,000 | Churchill Downs | Nov 25, 2017 | Road to Victory | Monomoy Girl | Cash Out | Dessert Honey | ||
| Demoiselle | miles | $250,000 | Aqueduct | Dec 2, 2017 | Wonder Gadot | Maurer Power | Layla Noor | Daisy | [18] | |
| Starlet | miles | $300,000 | Los Alamitos | Dec 9, 2017 | Dream Tree | Yesterdays News | Piedi Bianchi | Exuberance | [19] | |
| Santa Ynez | furlongs | $125,000 | Santa Anita | Jan 7, 2018 | Midnight Bisou | Steph Being Steph | Win the War | Yesterday's News | [20] | |
| Silverbulletday | 1 mile 70 yards | $150,000 | Fair Grounds | Jan 13, 2018 | Stronger Than Ever | Wonder Gadot | Missive | Blonde Bomber | [21] | |
| Busanda | 1 mile 70 yards | $100,000 | Aqueduct | Jan 25, 2018 | Midnight Disguise | Oldfashioned Style | Hail | Wealth Effect | [22] | |
| Forward Gal | 7 furlongs | $200,000 | Gulfstream | Feb 3, 2018 | Take Charge Paula | Sultry | My Miss Lilly | Heavenhasmynikki | [23] | |
| Las Virgenes | 1 mile | $300,000 | Santa Anita | Feb 4, 2018 | Dream Tree | Exuberance | Steph Being Steph | Thirteen Squared | [24] | |
| Suncoast Stakes | 1 mile 40 yards | $150,000 | Tampa Bay | Feb 10, 2018 | C. S. Incharge | Daisy | Mihrab | So Refined | [25] | |
| Martha Washington | 1 mile | $125,000 | Oaklawn | Feb 10, 2018 | Red Ruby | Sassy Sienna | Cosmic Burst | Tyfosha | [26] | |
| Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point, except the Juvenile Fillies, for which the points are doubled | ||||||||||
| Kentucky Oaks Championship Series | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First leg of series | ||||||||||
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref | |
| UAE Oaks | 1,900 metres ~ miles | $250,000 | Meydan | Mar 1, 2018 | Rayya | Expressly | Winter Lightning | Sa'Ada | [27] | |
| Rachel Alexandra | miles | $200,000 | Fair Grounds | Feb 17, 2018 | Monomoy Girl | Classy Act | Wonder Gadot | Patrona Margarita | [28] | |
| Busher | miles | $125,000 | Aqueduct | Mar 3, 2018 | Midnight Disguise | Sara Street | My Miss Lilly | Shamrock Rose | [29] | |
| Davona Dale | miles | $200,000 | Gulfstream | Mar 3, 2018 | Fly So High | Take Charge Paula | Heavenhasmynikki | Sultry | [30] | |
| Santa Ysabel | miles | $100,000 | Santa Anita | Mar 3, 2018 | Midnight Bisou | Thirteen Squared | Spring Lily | Sweetsongofthenile | [31] | |
| Honeybee | miles | $200,000 | Oaklawn | Mar 10, 2018 | Cosmic Burst | Amy's Challenge | Sassy Siena | Red Ruby | [32] | |
| Sunland Park Oaks | miles | $200,000 | Sunland | Mar 25, 2018 | Blamed | Kram | Charge Back | Bella Be Ready | [33] | |
| Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=10 points; 4th=5 points | ||||||||||
| Second leg of series | ||||||||||
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref | |
| Fair Grounds Oaks | miles | $400,000 | Fair Grounds | Mar 24, 2018 | Chocolate Martini | Eskimo Kisses | Wonder Gadot | Classy Act | [34] | |
| Gulfstream Oaks | miles | $250,000 | Gulfstream | Mar 31, 2018 | Coach Rocks | Take Charge Paula | Princess Warrior | Tell Your Mama | [35] | |
| Ashland | miles | $500,000 | Keeneland | Apr 7, 2018 | Monomoy Girl | Eskimo Kisses | Patrona Margarita | Andina Del Sur | [36] | |
| Santa Anita Oaks | miles | $400,000 | Santa Anita | Apr 7, 2018 | Midnight Bisou | Spectator | Thirteen Squared | Exuberance | [37] | |
| Gazelle | miles | $300,000 | Aqueduct | Apr 7, 2018 | My Miss Lilly | Sara Street | Virginia Key | Midnight Disguise | [38] | |
| Fantasy | miles | $400,000 | Oaklawn | Apr 13, 2018 | Sassy Siena | Wonder Gadot | Amy's Challenge | Cosmic Burst | [39] | |
| Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=40 points; 3rd=20 points; 4th=10 points | ||||||||||
| "Wild Card" | ||||||||||
| Race | Distance | Purse | Track | Date | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Ref | |
| Bourbonette Oaks | 1 mile | $100,000 | Turfway | Mar 17, 2018 | Go Noni Go | In the Mood | Homemade Salsa | Hey Negrita | [40] | |
| Beaumont | 7 furlongs | $150,000 | Keeneland | Apr 8, 2018 | Gas Station Sushi | Kellys Humour | Uppercut | Happy Like A Fool | [41] | |
| Bourbonette Oaks: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=4 points; 4th=2 points Beaumont Stakes: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 points | ||||||||||