Good Cheer Looks to Stay Perfect in the Prestigious Kentucky Oaks

The Godolphin filly looms a standout on Friday at Churchill Downs, where the party gets underway...

Good Cheer, an Unbeaten Filly of Distinction / KENTUCKY DERBY / COADY PHOTOGRAPHY

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- Who Will Win the 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1)? That question will be answered this afternoon, as the 151st edition of the most prestigious race of the season for 3-year-old fillies unfolds, kicking off a weekend celebration that will reach its climax Saturday with the running of the Kentucky Derby (G1).

With 13 fillies expected to enter the starting gate—Five G (Vekoma) is anticipated to scratch—most eyes will be on Good Cheer, an undefeated daughter of Medaglia d’Oro who races for Godolphin and boasts a flawless 6-for-6 record.

Trained by Brad Cox and to be ridden once more by Luis Sáez, the Panamanian star, Good Cheer arrives off a victory in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). Before that, she captured the Rag to Riches S. (L), the Golden Rod S. (G2), and the Rachel Alexandra S. (G2)—the first two at Churchill Downs, where she also broke her maiden by a jaw-dropping 17 lengths in an allowance race.

Always forwardly placed, as is her style, Good Cheer will once again be prominent early and will likely need to hold off a late surge from La Cara (Street Sense), trained by Mark Casse for Tracy Farmer, with Dylan Davis aboard. A proven performer beneath the Twin Spires, where she won the Pocahontas S. (G3) last fall before finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), La Cara added the Suncoast S. (L) in January and looked strong winning the Ashland S. (G1) last out at Keeneland, signaling a filly on the rise.

Not to be overlooked is Quietside, a daughter of Malibu Moon set to be piloted by José Ortiz. After several promising efforts, she has blossomed with back-to-back wins in the Honeybee S. (G3) and Fantasy S. (G2), both at Oaklawn Park, and arrives at the Oaks without having been overtaxed in the lead-up.

Making his much-discussed return to Churchill Downs, Bob Baffert sends out Tenma (Nyquist), the undisputed queen of California after sweeping the Starlet S. (G2), Las Virgenes S. (G3), and Santa Anita Oaks (G1). This will be her toughest assignment yet, but Baffert knows what it takes on this stage—and if he believes she belongs, there’s every reason to take her seriously.