“She’s a very special filly,” jockey Luis Saez said after tasting victory at Churchill Downs today. With Saez on her back, Good Cheer won the Kentucky Oaks on May 2 by 2 1/4-length. With that, the 3-year-old retained her winning ways. With a six-race winning streak to her name, Good Cheer was easily one of the top contenders to win the $1.5 million purse and she didn’t disappoint.

But she did take her sweet time, running as low as eighth along the backstretch, with La Cara and Bob Baffert‘s Tenma fighting for the lead early on. Then came the late surge, and she passed four horses on the stretch, ultimately finishing the race ahead of Drexel Hill and Bless the Broken by a difference of 2 1/4 lengths. Trainer Brad Cox couldn’t have asked for more. Now, as the dust settles and the Kentucky Derby preparations commence, Cox reveals how the filly is basking in the glory of her latest success.

In his X post from May 2, Cox shared an image of the 2025 Kentucky Oaks winner. Captioned, “Good Cheer settled back in her stall enjoying the celebrations at the barn,” the post shows the calm horse receiving a special post-victory coach from one of her colleagues. In his social media update, Cox also thanked the staff who helped Good Cheer continue expanding its portfolio.

“We knew there was a lot of speed in here, so we just wanted to stay out of trouble through the first half of the race. (Jockey) Luis (Saez) did a great job saving ground into the first turn and staying out of trouble. He’s the perfect rider for a perfect filly,” Cox said after the race. Saez, too, was mesmerized by his four-legged partner’s incredible skills. “She is one of the best fillies I’ve ever been on,” said the 2022 Kentucky Oaks-winning jockey. But now, as the dust settles on the Kentucky Oaks, all eyes turn toward the grand spectacle scheduled for today.

The Kentucky Oaks’ culmination begins the countdown for the Derby

In less than 24 hours after the Kentucky Oaks ended, the Run for the Roses will return to Churchill Downs. With a stacked line-up, the 151st Kentucky Derby will undoubtedly be one for the ages. While a lot of high-profile names adorn the competitors’ list, most horse racing connoisseurs will concern themselves with a particular entrant. After a 3-year suspension, the iconic Bob Baffert will return to the Kentucky Derby. His Kentucky Oaks fortune didn’t prove to be something to go ga-ga over, but things could be different tomorrow.

In 2021, Baffert, with his trainee Medina Spirit, dethroned Ben Jones as the trainer with the most Kentucky Derby wins. But only for a while as later, the thoroughbred tested positive for a banned substance, and subsequently had to surrender its Derby triumph to Mandaloun. Along with that, CDI also suspended Baffert, which extended all the way to 2024. But now, he’s back. Although not with all guns blazing, as you’d hope.

Bob was initially speculated to participate in the Derby with two horses: last year’s juvenile champion, Citizen Bull, and this year’s Wood Memorial winner, Rodriguez. However, late on Thursday, Baffert announced that Rodriguez had picked up a foot bruise and would be scratched from the Derby, while Baeza would step in to fill the space. But the trainer’s decision to give his horse a breather was met with some fans pointing out that the trainer has a history of making horses work extra hard to attain success, and even PETA called out to Churchill Downs to keep its eyes on the celebrity horse racing figure.

And yet, despite all the heat on him, Baffert remains hopeful that his comeback will be one for the ages. At the Kentucky Oaks today, Baffert’s horse Tenma crossed the finishing line in fourth place. But can Citizen Bull come up with better results on Saturday? Tell us what do you think!