Kentucky Oaks 2020 Best Bet, Expert Picks, Predictions, Horses, Field

The $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies is the highlight of the Friday card at Churchill Downs. The Oaks drew a field of nine, with Gamine and Swiss Skydiver as the favorites.

Swiss Skydiver is the favorite for the Kentucky Oaks 2020. She has won four straight graded stakes races. The only blemish on her record came against males in the Blue Grass (G2).

#2 Tempers Rising (50-1) finished second in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) this winter. Trainer Dallas Stewart has a knack of running second at giant 50-$1-like odds in high-profile races.

Donna Velocce is the favorite at Kentucky Oaks 2020. She hasn't been seen for 5 months. Velco nearly won the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) and finished second in the Starlet ( G1).

#4 Speech won the Ashland at Keeneland by three lengths last time out. Swiss Skydiver lost to Speech in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in May. Speech came within a neck of Gamine at Oaklawn in April.

Gamine is trained by Bob Baffert. She won the Acorn (G1) at Belmont by 18 3 /4 lengths and the 7-furlong Test ( G1), at Saratoga by 7 lengths. The big question for her is distance.

#6 BAYERNESS is the only horse in the field with a win over Swiss Skydiver. She has failed to move forward in three starts since.

#7 SHEDARESTHEDEVIL (20-1) beat up on high-priced allowance optional claimers at Churchill two races ago and then validated that win with a repeat last time in the Indiana Oaks (G3). Also looked good this spring at Oaklawn when she won the Honeybee ( G3) but she was beaten 13 lengths the next time out in Fantasy (3G).

Hoppe's Growth won the Monmouth Oaks by four lengths last time out. Hope has a dangerous running style and is a horse who will be up close but doesn't want or need the lead in order to win.

#9 Dream Marie is the last of the long-odds stabs rounding out the field. Dream Maria is winless in six outings since her second-place finish in the Delaware Oaks (G3).

KENTUCKY OAKS ANALYSIS. If you're betting on the favorites, you need to take a big stand in the exactas or play them in trifectas. Swiss Skydiver is the most likely winner. Four Graces (7-5) is looking tough in Eight Belles, sharing (6-6) in Edgewood, By My Standards ( 7-7) Alysheba, Monomoy Girl (4-4) La Troienne.