(Getty)
The Kentucky Oaks may not be quite as popular as the Kentucky Derby, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most lucrative horse races in the world.
As was the case last year, the total purse for the “Run for the Lilies” is set at $1 million, while the winning team will receive an estimated $564,200, and the winning horse will be donned with the famous “Lilies for the Fillies” garland.
Here’s a complete look at the prize money breakdown for the 2017 Kentucky Oaks participants, per KentuckyDerby.com:
2017 Kentucky Oaks Prize Money Breakdown
1st Place: $564,200
2nd Place: $182,000
3rd Place: $91,000
4th Place: $45,500
5th Place: $27,300
6th Through 14th Place: $10,000
Career Earnings Prior to 2017 Kentucky Oaks
There are only two horses in this year’s field for which a victory wouldn’t more than double her career earnings: Miss Sky Warrior, an already highly accomplished horse who has captured victories in four graded stakes, who has won four races overall and two of the Grade-2 variety.
Heading into the Oaks, the odds-on favorite to win, Paradise Woods, is just seventh among the horses in the field in career earnings.
Here’s a complete look at what every filly has made thus far, per America’s Best Racing:
Miss Sky Warrior: $641,590
Farrell: $601,357
Daddys Lil Darling: $464,365
Ever So Clever: $377,850
Sailor’s Valentine: $359,214
Abel Talsman: $347,860
Tequilita: $288,540
Paradise Woods: $283,200
Mopotism: $189,00
Salty: $180,370
Lockdown: $168,000
Wicked Lick: $162,228
Vexatious: $124,160
Jordan’s Henny: $120,135
(Also Eligible) Summer Luck: $99,500
Other Expensive Races on Friday Night
While the Kentucky Oaks is the most expensive race at Churchill Downs on the Friday schedule, there are several other graded stakes that will have a big purse on the line:
Grade-2 Alysheba: $400,000
Grade-1 La Troienne: $300,000
Grade-2 Eight Belles: $200,000
Grade-3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint: $150,000
Grade-3 Edgewood: $150,000