HORSE NATION

Happy Friday, Horse Nation! Before I go into total Derby excitement overdrive, let’s take a quick look at the fillies-only $1 million Kentucky Oaks running at Churchill today.

The Oaks is a Grade I stakes for 3-year-old fillies, run slightly shorter (one and one eighth miles) and lighter (121 pounds) than the Derby (one and one quarter mile, 126 pounds).

Two standouts drew posts right beside each other: Grace Hall, post 2, finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and On Fire Baby, post 1, easily won the Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn in March.

The list of jocks is a who’s-who, but then again, of course it is. This is Derby weekend. [Daily Racing Form]

Post time is 5:45 p.m. ET. [Viewing Information]

These fillies are fast! And if nothing else, it’s as a good opportunity to sort out that julep recipe and figure out how to best pin on that hat.

Go fillies! Go fillies! Go fillies!