Fair Grounds Oaks Odds & Betting Preview: Finite Heavy -300 Favorite
- The Fair Grounds Oaks was to be Kentucky Oaks favorite Finite’s final prep race
- With the Kentucky Oaks now scheduled for September, will Finite be fully cranked?
- What other betting options are worth a close look?
Because the Kentucky Oaks and Derby are held on the first weekend in May, prep races in February, March, and April become key barometers.
Last week, before it was announced the Derby and Oaks will move to September, Arkansas had their biggest racing day of the year. Saturday, it is Louisiana’s turn. While they are no longer directly leading to the big races in Louisville, there are still lots of points on the line that help competitors qualify for the top races and major purses.
While the main event Saturday has no real favorite and lots of betting opportunities, for the fillies the story is just how good is Finite? She is the clear cut Oaks favorite, but if you can beat her it will payoff handsomely.
Let’s look at the odds and consider our best options.
2020 Fair Ground Oaks Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Finite | -300 |
| Tempers Rising | +550 |
| Bonny South | +1000 |
| Antoinette | +1200 |
| Stop Shoppin Tammy | +1600 |
| French Rose | +5000 |
Odds taken Mar. 19
Favorite: Finite
Two time Kentucky Derby-winning connections, trainer Steve Asmussen and rider Ricardo Santana Jr have the clear cut Kentucky Oaks favorite. Owner Winchell Thoroughbreds won the Oaks with Asmussen and rider Rosie Napravnik with Untapable in 2014, and Winchell and Asmussen teamed with up jockey Jerry Bailey to win the KY Oaks with Summerly in 2005.
Finite has raced seven times with five wins and two seconds. Her win in last month’s Rachel Alexandra Stakes was breathtaking when you consider her competition, eclipse award winner British Idiom.
Since back to back runner up appearances to begin her career at Saratoga, Finite has been perfect. She broke her maiden at Kentucky Downs on the turf, has two victories including a graded stakes at Churchill Downs, and two wins at Fair Grounds have put her at the top of the class.
Top Contender: Bonny South
With all due respect to Tempers Rising (11/2), she was up the track against Finite when they raced against each other recently, and we prefer new blood.
Bonny South is young and untested. After finishing fourth in her debut, she has back to back wins at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park against vastly inferior competition. Her win at 15/2 coming from seventh to win by three-quarters a length last time out was impressive and she is improving.
Longshot: Antoinette
The daughter of Kentucky Derby runner up Hard Spun, Antoinette is making her three-year-old debut today. When last seen, she had gone from beating maidens to capturing her first race against winners, the Tepin Stakes at Aqueduct.
Owned by Godolphin Racing, the ruling party of Dubai, they are fully dedicated with little regard for money to own the best horses in the world. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, she is a classy and likely to improve. Her move along the rail last time out was impressive against a solid if not spectacular field.
The Bet: Antoinette
Finite is the most likely winner and it isn’t particularly close. However, she has to win more than 75-percent of the time to make her a strong win bet. At 12/1, there is value with Antoinette. Some exactas with the two horses is worthwhile too.
Dave Friedman has covered professional and college sports for two decades. From ESPN to the Associated Press, Regional Sports Networks, Metro Networks, and many local outlets, he has written about and broadcast major and minor events throughout the country.
