“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.
Good Cheer settled back in her stall enjoying the celebrations at the barn. Thanks to our staff for all their hard work, back at it again tomorrow.
Willie GC #TeamCox pic.twitter.com/a07YbsmqGS
— Brad H. Cox Racing (@bradcoxracing) May 3, 2025
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