The Kentucky Oaks, run every year since 1875, is one of the oldest sporting traditions in North America. Some of the greatest fillies in history have won the race. Who will add her name to the list this year? Read on to find out, and to see the best places to bet the Kentucky Oaks online in Canada!
Betting the Kentucky Oaks Online
Going to the Kentucky Oaks in Louisville is fun, and a great horse race, and this is the first year since 2019 that Churchill Downs is allowing a full crowd. However, not everyone can make it there, or even wants to, given the crowds and lines. Fortunately, you can still get the best odds and bonuses — typically better than the racetrack! — by playing online from a top Canadian sportsbook!
Betting the Kentucky Oaks online is the most fun when you know you can maximize your profit. You can do that by making sure to evaluate your options and choose the right online sportsbook. Signing up for a sportsbook with a great user interface, reliable deposit and cash-out options, and lucrative bonuses is easy with our trusted, helpful reviews.
2022 Kentucky Oaks Odds And Information
Now that you have your account at a top Canadian sportsbook, it is time to meet the field for the 2022 edition of the Kentucky Oaks.
Kentucky Oaks Horses
This is the official field for the 2022 Kentucky Oaks, including post positions, trainers, and jockeys:
- Secret Oath (D. Wayne Lukas/Luis Saez) – 6-1
- Nostalgic (Bill Mott/Jose Ortiz) – 15-1
- Hidden Connection (Bret Calhoun/Reylu Gutierrez) – 20-1
- Nest (Todd Pletcher/Irad Ortiz, Jr.) – 5-2
- Goddess of Fire (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez) – 15-1
- Yuugiri (Rodolphe Brisset/Florent Geroux) – 30-1
- Echo Zulu (Steve Asmussen/Joel Rosario) – 4-1
- Venti Valentine (Jose Abreu/Tyler Gaffalione) – 20-1
- Desert Dawn (Phil d’Amato/Umberto Rispoli) – 20-1
- Kathleen O. (Shug McGaughey/Javier Castellano) – 7-2
- Cocktail Moments (Ken McPeek/Corey Lanerie) – 30-1
- Candy Raid (Keith Desormeaux/Rafael Bejarano) – 30-1
- Shahama (Todd Pletcher/Flavien Prat) – 15-1
- Turnerloose (Brad Cox/Manuel Franco) – 20-1
- Beguine (Daniel Peitz/Ricardo Santana) – 30-1 – ALSO ELIGIBLE
Beguine is entered as an also-eligible entrant. She will only get into the race if someone else from the main field scratches out of the race before on-track wagering opens up at 9:00 am on the day of the race. Should a horse scratch later than that, Beguine will not be allowed to run.
These are the odds on the top Kentucky Oaks contenders at major Canadian sportsbooks:
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Nest | 3.75 | 3.50 |
| Echo Zulu | 4.50 | 5.00 |
| Kathleen O. | 5.00 | 4.50 |
| Secret Oath | 6.00 | 7.00 |
| Hidden Connection | 15.00 | 21.00 |
| Desert Dawn | 15.00 | 21.00 |
| Shahama | 16.00 | 16.00 |
Free Kentucky Oaks Handicapping
Now that you have seen the field and know about the best places to bet the race online let’s dive into the contenders in the Kentucky Oaks!
Kentucky Oaks Favourites
Nest was named the morning line favourite, and there are great reasons why. She is already a graded winner at a mile and eighth, the same distance as the Oaks, at age two. She is even better at age three, winning both her races in romps. Her off-pace style plays perfectly with so much speed entered against her, and she is bred well for the likely wet track.
Echo Zulu may be favoured, or close to it, based on early Vegas action. However, she is worth taking a stand against. With other speed like Yuugiri, Venti Valentine, and Turnerloose, she will have a lot of competition for her preferred forward trip. And, though she was perhaps short for her seasonal debut in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), she still has to prove she has kept up with the best in her class.
Kentucky Oaks Contenders
Secret Oath was last seen finishing a credible third against males. Now, the star of the Oaklawn meet moves to face fillies again. She proved in the Honeybee (G3) that she can stay engaged and win the race even after a troubled trip, something that helps with her rail draw. She has the right running style, and though she has to prove herself at nine furlongs, she ran well enough against the boys last out to think she can contend against fillies.
The breakout star of the Gulfstream spur of the Oaks trail was Kathleen O. Undefeated in four starts; she was able to close at notoriously speed-friendly Gulfstream. Now, she moves to a track that tends to play more fairly for off-pace horses and will have a pace that sets up nicely for her, too. She also got her maiden win over an off track, a positive given the forecast.
Kentucky Oaks Longshots
Though Shahama has made all of her starts in the UAE so far, she was impressive enough in all of them to think she has a shot at this level, especially since her closing style will get a good setup. She has proven her stamina since her UAE Oaks (G2) win came at a sixteenth of a mile longer than this. And, she is by excellent wet-track sire Munnings.
Nostalgic won last out at the Oaks distance, proving both her stamina and the fact that she has moved forward from ages two to three; at two, she tried the distance as well but finished a well-beaten fourth. She faces tougher foes this time, but her tractable running style and quality off-track pedigree make her an intriguing longshot in the Oaks.
Kentucky Oaks Expert Picks
Now that you know where and how to bet the race online, here are the best bets for the 2022 Kentucky Oaks:
- $20 win: #4 Nest
- $5 win/place/show: #13 Shahama
- $5 exacta key: #4 Nest with #1 Secret Oath, #13 Shahama
- $1 trifecta key: #4 Nest with #1 Secret Oath, #10 Kathleen O., #13 Shahama
- $1 superfecta key: #4 Nest with #1 Secret Oath, #2 Nostalgic, #10 Kathleen O., #13 Shahama
