Good Cheer leads 117 fillies nominated to the G1 Kentucky Oaks
February 22, 2025 February 22, 2025
Back to Our News PageChurchill Downs announced Feb. 20 that Godolphin’s undefeated Kentucky-bred Good Cheer tops a list of 117 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 151st running of the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1), set for Friday, May 2.
The fillies were made eligible to compete in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks through a $200 early nomination payment that closed Feb. 15. The 117 fillies mark a 12.5 percent increase from last year’s total of 104 nominees.
Trained by Brad Cox, Good Cheer is a perfect 5-for-5 in her racing career. She capped her 2-year-old season with a victory in the Golden Rod S. (G2) at Churchill Downs after also annexing the Rags to Riches Stakes last October at Churchill Downs. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro kicked off her sophomore campaign with a dominant victory in the Rachel Alexandra S. (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Other top Kentucky-bred nominees include Muhimma, winner of the Demoiselle S. (G2) and undefeated in three career starts for Shadwell Stable and Cox; Baoma Corp’s Tenma, a Bob Baffert-trained daughter of Nyquist and winner of the Las Virgenes S. (G3) at Santa Anita; Stonestreet Stables homebred Eclatant, victorious in the Forward Gal S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park for Cox; and La Cara, who won the Pocahontas S. (G3) at Churchill Downs last year for owner-bred Tracy Farmer and trainer Mark Casse. La Cara, a daughter of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Street Sense, kicked off her 3-year-old season with a win in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 8.