Road to the Kentucky Derby 2022: Lilies and Fillies

Kentucky Oaks:

The Kentucky Oaks, also known as “Lilies for the Fillies”, is the Kentucky Derby’s female counterpart. Twenty of the highest class fillies in the world gather at Churchill Downs on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby for a ten furlong race with a prize of $1.25 million. Even though the Kentucky Derby is open to colts and fillies, most fillies stick to the Oaks because it’s easier to gather points for the race. 

This year’s race had fourteen starters and when the gates opened Echo Zulu, a filly by Gun Runner, took the lead right away. She headed the pack with Yuugiri following close behind, but at the clubhouse turn, Yuugiri passed Echo Zulu on the inside, and took to the backstretch with a length lead. 

In the backstretch, Secret Oath waned over to the outside of the pack and started to make ground on the front runners. As the pack neared the far turn, horses started to aim for positions and jockeys asked for more run. 

In the far turn, a five horse wall was formed and Venti Valentine was forced to put on the breaks, resulting in her falling back to last place. Secret Oath, still on the outside, started to gain ground on Echo Zulu. 

In the homestretch, Yuugiri faded and Desert Dawn looked like she would follow right behind Secret Oath, but wasn’t fast enough to keep up with her pace. Nest and Desert Dawn were neck and neck along the homestretch for second place, with Echo Zulu and the rest of the pack trailing behind them. 

Secret Oath made an impressive win, pulling away from the pack to breeze down the homestretch. Nest beat Desert Dawn to the wire and came in second. Desert Dawn took third, and Echo Zulu, surprisingly, came in fourth.