2011 Kentucky Oaks Betting Preview and Tips Part One

We are less than 24 hours away from the big preview day for the Kentucky Derby with Kentucky Oaks day – the day for the ladies to strut their stuff. We'll be taking a quick look at the field for the 2011 edition of the Kentucky Oaks – a Grade 1 contest going 1m1f on the dirt at Churchill.

Joyful Victory (Tapit) really turned a corner when getting moved over to jockey Mike Smith. She's run a monster 2011 with two emphatic stakes victories setting her up nicely for this one. She'll be the chalk at 5/2 and it will be interesting to see if she can hold onto her status once the betting gets going. Note the sharp 5f work over a sloppy Churchill track a few days ago – she breezed a few seconds faster than Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) and stablemate Stay Thirsty (Bernardini). Conversely, the Beyer average should be higher and she'll need to run her best race.

Lilacs and Lace (Flower Alley) has only had a single outing over dirt and it didn't go too well so you have to wonder how she'll deal with a messy Churchill surface tomorrow. She's a Grade 1 winner and trades around 12/1 in the morning line. Was absolutely routed by Summer Soiree (War Front) last time out.

Speaking of the devil, Summer Soiree lines up right next door to Lilacs and Lace. A really nice win the Bourbonette Stakes paved the way here and that came on the back of a nice seasonal debut in allowance company at Oaklawn Park. She has won her last two races by a combined 19.5 lengths. She's clearly going to take some money and her 5/1 will probably get bet down a bit once people take a look at the ROI offered by the trainer.

Kathmanblu (Bluegrass Cat) has been a contender fo rmuch of the year and deserves to be ranked amongst the more plausible contenders. She looks to have the measure of a few different surfaces having wins on dirt and turf and she is placed on synthetic. Beaten by three lengths by Lilacs and Lace last time out. Her 4/1 price indicates confidence but she'll need to run a great race to be a genuine factor.

Suave Voir Faire (Suave) might be worth a gamble to some as she goes blinkers on with a 50/1 price tag. Placed in the Bourbonette Oaks, she really needs to step it up from a Beyer standpoint if she's going to factor. She just doesn't look a Grade 1 horse but we'll see how she reacts to the gear change.

Zazu (Tapit) is looking like a real factor and she'll be representing California as she lines up for Jerry and Ann Moss. Just beaten in the Santa Anita Oaks, she'll be able to handle this field if she runs to her best. Expect her to take a substantial amount of money from the betting public thanks to her striking appearance, I wouldn't be surprised to see her run a really nice race. Will be interesting to see how a season on the dirt at Santa Anita prepares her for Churchill.

Her Smile (Include) is a recent purchase by Bobby Flay and she'll need to pick it up quite a bit if she's going to be a factor. You have to respect the purchase though – obviously Flay and Pletcher think there is something there. Is untested at the distance but could be a factor if things go her way. Pletcher is returning money on graded stakes and dirt contests this year and a 20/1 price makes her more worth a punt than some of the others in the contest.