Road to the Kentucky Oaks

The Kentucky Oaks, sister race to the Kentucky Derby, has been run a consecutive 138 years, same as the Kentucky Derby.

83% of sports fans do not understand how a Thoroughbred qualifies to compete in the Kentucky Derby^*.

*Thoroughbred Research Group. (2012).
Road to the Kentucky Derby^™ research. Louisville, Ky.

The field is comprised of the top 14 Fillies with the highest earnings in graded stakes races.
Approximately 70 graded stakes races worldwide determine Kentucky Oaks entries over a 10-month period.
Graded stakes races are governed by the American Graded Stakes Committee, an arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), which sets graded stakes criteria and awards grade status to individual races.

To establish a clear, practical and understandable path to the Kentucky Oaks
To present a compelling, easy-to-follow story of the road to the Oaks that captures the attention and sparks the imagination of fans
To maximize the quality of the Oaks field and protect the integrity of the race, while respecting the tradition and relevance of paths taken to the race by previous Kentucky Oaks winners

Kentucky Oaks Prep Season
- Twenty races over 2-year-old & early 3-year-old seasons
- Distances of 6 furlongs or more
- Multiple surfaces: dirt, turf or synthetic
Kentucky Oaks Championship Series
- Series of fifteen races for 3-year-olds including one Wild Card race
- Distances of 6 furlongs or more
- Dirt or synthetic surfaces only
Any Filly running in a race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks^™ can use those points for the Road to the Kentucky Derby^™.

Twenty races over 2-year-old & early
3-year-old seasons
Distances of 6 furlongs or more
Multiple surfaces: dirt, turf or synthetic
Prep Season race finishers earn:
- 1^st 10 points
- 2^nd 4 points
- 3^rd 2 points
- 4^th 1 point

Series of fifteen races for 3-year-olds including one Wild Card race
Distances of 6 furlongs or more
Dirt or synthetic surfaces only
First Leg of Series race finishers earn:
- 1^st 50 points
- 2^nd 20 points
- 3^rd 10 points
- 4^th 5 points
Second Leg of Series race finishers earn:
- 1^st 100 points
- 2^nd 40 points
- 3^rd 20 points
- 4^th 10 points

First Leg of Series:
- UAE Oaks (Meydan, Dubai)
- Davona Dale (Gulfstream Park, FL)
- Rachel Alexandra (Fair Grounds, LA)
- Las Virgenes (Santa Anita, CA)
- Honeybee (Oaklawn Park, AR)
- Cicada (Aqueduct, NY)
- Bourbonette Oaks (Turfway Park, KY)
- Sunland Park Oaks (Sunland Park, NM)
Second Leg of Series:
- Fair Grounds Oaks (Fair Grounds, LA)
- Gulfstream Oaks (Gulfstream Park, FL)
- Santa Anita Oaks (Santa Anita, CA)
- Ashland (Keeneland, KY)
- Comely (Aqueduct, NY)
- Fantasy (Oaklawn Park, AR)

cont'd
Wild Card race finishers earn:
- 1^st 20 points
- 2^nd 8 points
- 3^rd 4 points
- 4^th 2 points
Wild Card Race:
- Beaumont (Keeneland, KY)

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If more than the maximum fourteen horses are entered in the 2013 Kentucky Oaks, the top fourteen point earners will comprise the field that will compete in the race.
Earnings in non-restricted stakes races will serve as a tie breaker.

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