Top 5 Kentucky Oaks Best Jockeys To Bet On
Luis Saez
Secret Oath was the star at the Kentucky Oaks earlier this year as she was scintillating at Churchill Downs. It was a masterful ride by Luis Saez to get the win on board the three-year-old, as he bided his time before making his move to the lead with 1½ furlongs remaining.
However, once she got in front, it was clear for all to see that Saez was the 2022 Kentucky Oaks best jockey, as Secret Oath opened up the lead and eventually won by two lengths from Nest.
Saez Among Most Successful Jockeys
It has been an excellent season for Saez this term, as he has so often been the man for the big occasion. Only Irad Ortiz has won more races in 2022, as Saez has clocked up 183 victories from 978 starts.
He has won over $14.7 million in prize money, with his biggest victories coming in the G1 Fourstardave Handicap and G1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes.
However, he has also won a number of Grade 2s this year, including the G2 Brooklyn Stakes, G2 Edgewood Stakes, and G2 Elkhorn.
Irad Ortiz
The Kentucky Oaks may not have gone to play for Irad Ortiz. The Kentucky Oaks odds had Nest as the pre-race favorite, but she just couldn’t get in the right place at the right time.
That ultimately left her with far too much to do in the closing stages, but she did battle well to finish second close to the line after overtaking Desert Dawn. But, her biggest victories have come since finishing second in the Kentucky Oaks.
Ortiz’s Dominance Continues
It has been a sensational season for Irad Ortiz, and he is one of the 2022 Kentucky Oaks best jockeys to bet on.
He looks to be on course to be named Champion Jockey. He has already recorded 213 victories this season, making him the only jockey to have surpassed the 200 wins barrier. In total, he has won a staggering $21 million in prize money throughout 2022.
Nest bounced back following defeat in the Oaks with a pair of graded victories over Secret Oath, including in the G1 Ashland Stakes.
Since the Oaks, Ortiz has also won a number of huge Grade 1s, including the Belmont Stakes and Belmont Oaks, with Mo Donegal and McKulick, respectively.
Umberto Rispoli
Umberto Rispoli potentially performed one of the rides of the Oaks this year, as he managed to get 50/1 shot Desert Dawn to finish third.
The outsider separated the top four in the betting, as she finished half a length clear of Echo Zulu and half a length behind Nest.
Rispoli ensured that she was in the right position throughout the race, and she was only beaten to second by Nest in the closing stages of the race.
Quiet Season For Rispoli
Rispoli has won over $22 million in prize money throughout his career but is yet to really make a massive impression in the biggest races in 2022. The jockey has won 56 times from 367 starts and has collected prize money of just over $5 million.
To date, he has recorded just a single Grade 1 victory, with that coming on board Ocean Road in the Gamely Stakes.
However, he has achieved success in Grade 2s, which includes victories with Bellabel, Chewing Gum and Going Global in the San Clemente, Joe Hernandez and Yellow Ribbon Handicap, respectively.
Joel Rosario
Joel Rosario may have been one of the more disappointed jockeys from the Oaks earlier this year, as many saw Echo Zulu as one of the leading contenders. She was in excellent form going into the race, but she looked to struggle at Churchill Downs.
Eventually, she finished in fourth after being overtaken by many of the horses that finished ahead of her. However, Rosario ensured that she stayed true to the task, and that she made it home in fourth place to take at least a substantial amount in prize money.
Rosario Second In Standings
Despite a disappointing effort in the Oaks, Rosario is one of the 2022 Kentucky Oaks Best Jockeys to bet on and remains one of the most talented riders in the U.S. this season.
He is second in the jockey standings, as he has won 126 races from 612 rides. He has collected the second-most in prize money so far this season, with his rides winning over $17.4 million.
Rosario has already ridden some huge Grade 1 winners this year, including Pauline’s Pearl in the La Troienne Stakes and Jackie’s Warrior in the Churchill Downs Stakes.
However, his most likely winner at the Breeders’ Cup later this year could come in the form of Odgen Phipps winner Clairiere.
Javier Castellano
Kathleen O. was another of the main contenders for the Oaks earlier this season, but she struggled throughout the race at Churchill Downs.
There’s no denying that she was able to get home, but she lacked the real pace to trouble the leaders in the closing stages.
Still, Castellano did an excellent job to ensure that she didn’t drop any further back than the fifth place where she finished.
Castellano Enjoying Steady Campaign
Castellano has enjoyed graded success with Kathleen O. since the Oaks, as she was able to get a graded victory in the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks.
That was his highest win of the season, as it returned $369,000 in prize money. Overall, he has won over $7 million this season, after getting 105 winners from 650 rides.
His other big victories have come in Grade 3s, with Scalding winning the G3 Ben Ali Stakes and Officiating coming out on top in the G3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker.
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