Kentucky Oaks

Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1? miles (1811 metres) at Churchill Downs; carry 121 pounds (55 kg).

The Kentucky Oaks dates back to the earliest days of Churchill Downs, which was known as the Louisville Jockey Club when it conducted its first race, meet in 1875. Its first running was held Wednesday, May 19, 1875 as one of four stakes races developed by founder M. Lewis Clark for the track's inaugural meet. The Kentucky Oaks is renewed each year on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, but it is much more than a sister race to the famed "Run for the Roses."

The Kentucky Oaks is one of three races that are the de facto distaff counterparts to the Triple Crown races, along with the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park. They have not, however, been officially referred to as the "Filly Triple Crown"; that distinction goes to three races run at Belmont and Saratoga Race Course in New York, now officially called the Triple Tiara to avoid trademark conflicts. However, consideration has been given within the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the sport's governing body in the United States, to change the Triple Tiara series to the Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan and Acorn.

The roster of horses that have won the 1? mile (1811 metres) race in its first 130 years includes some of the greatest fillies in racing history. Three of those races ? the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks and the Clark ? were modeled after Classic races in England. The Kentucky Oaks was fashioned in the image of the English Oaks at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

The victory by Vinaigrette launched a strong tradition for the Kentucky Oaks, which ? like the Kentucky Derby ? has been renewed each year without interruption since its inaugural running.

Louisvillians once referred to the Oaks as "our Derby," implying that the Derby itself had become the domain of celebrities and out-of-town visitors. In recent years that have changed, as the Oaks has become nearly as popular as the Derby. Indeed, the spectator attendance on "Oaks Day" is usually second only to Derby Day, surpassing attendance at the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup.

The other important event on the card was the Louisville Breeders' Cup where Spain won to increase her earnings to a total of $3,304,244 breaking Serena's Song's record and making her the top North American distaff earner of all time.

20-1 longshot Farda Amiga rallied in the stretch to catch favorite Take Charge Lady and win the 128th Kentucky Oaks by 1 1/4 length. The race set up as expected with Take Charge Lady going to the front and controlling the pace. The Brazilian owners of Farda Amiga were jubilant over their win with much yelling, chanting, and waving of the Brazilian flag. The winner had to survive an objection from third place finisher Habibti for alleged interference in the upper stretch, but it was disallowed.