The Kentucky Oaks is America’s top race for 3-year-old fillies—female horses—and the race is held each year on the day before the Kentucky Derby. According to Churchill Downs, Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs is the second-highest attended horse race in the United States after the Triple Crown races. The 2024 Kentucky Oaks is set to run at approximately 5:51 p.m. ET on Friday, May 3.

Below, DraftKings Director of Race and Sportsbook Operations Johnny Avello gives his top Kentucky Oaks horse racing picks for DK Horse.

Johnny Avello’s Kentucky Oaks Picks:

The weekend is here and ladies go first in the 2024 Kentucky Oaks, which is nicknamed “Lilies For the Fillies”. There are multiple talented 3-year-old fillies in this race, but I settled on Ways and Means because I believe she is a special one. She has participated in only three previous races in her short career with a win and two seconds but found trouble in two of those three. Let’s hope for a clean trip. This is how I’m going to play this race:

Win & Place- #11 Ways and Means

Exacta Key- #11 Ways and Means with #5 Thorpedo Anna, #8 Tarifa, #13 FYI and #14 Leslie’s Rose

—written by DraftKings Director of Race and Sportsbook Operations Johnny Avello

See all of VSiN horse racing expert Mike Somich’s horse racing 101 betting tips here: How to Bet on Horse Racing: Tips, Strategies for Betting on DK Horse

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Johnny Avello is an employee of DraftKings. Personal views on the races and strategies above do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in selecting their horses to wager upon. DraftKings employees may also deploy different strategies than what is recommended above. DraftKings employees do not have access to any non-public information.

Lines and odds subject to change.