LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Good Cheer is the winner of the 151st running of the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks.
Good Cheer gave Louisville trainer Brad Cox his third Oaks win. He won in 2018 with Monomoy Girl and 2020 with Shedaresthedevil.
Jockey Luis Saez also has multiple Oaks victories. He won in 2022 aboard Secret Oath. Good Cheer is owned by Godolphin, which also owns 2023 Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous.
The Oaks—a 1 1/8 mile race—featured 13 3-year-old fillies running on a sloppy, mud-filled track. Good Cheer ran the race in 1:50:15 to win her seventh race in dominant fashion. She is the first undefeated filly to win the Oaks since 2021’s Malathaat.
Cox had confidence in Good Cheer, telling BloodHorse, “She’s very steady; easy to be around, always listens to her rider.”
Morning-line odds had her at 6-5 favorite after the post position draw Saturday, April 22 and she remained the favorite on race day.
Two hours before the Oaks, thunderstorms roared through Louisville making the track soggy and sending many of the 100,910 fans scrambling for shelter. The Oaks was delayed 10 minutes, but that and the wet track didn’t seem to bother Good Cheer.
She was off the pace after starting from the No. 11 post but well within range of the leaders before charging forward through the final turns. Good Cheer was fourth entering the stretch and closed inside and into the lead, pulling away for her fourth win at Churchill Downs and second in the mud.
Here is how the top 3 finished in the historic 151st running of the Oaks.
