The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system by which Thoroughbred fillies will qualify for the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, which will be held on September 4 (rescheduled from the traditional first Saturday in May due to the coronavirus pandemic). The field for the Kentucky Oaks, the filly equivalent of the Kentucky Derby, is limited to fourteen horses, with up to four "also eligible" horses in case of a late withdrawal from the field.
Originally, the 30 races in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks were to be held from September 2019 (when the fillies are age two) through April 2020 (when they have turned three). However, in March 2020, the growing coronavirus pandemic prompted the cancellation of several prep races, and the rescheduling of the Oaks itself. Churchill Downs is currently considering adding more qualifying races to the series with points to be determined. The top four finishers in the specified races earn points, with the highest point values awarded in the major preparatory races. Earnings in non-restricted stakes act as a tie breaker.
Fillies who instead wish to enter the Kentucky Derby have to earn the necessary points in the races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby: points earned on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks are not transferable. However, if a filly does earn qualifying points for the Derby by racing in open company, those points also count towards qualifying for the Oaks.
The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series .
The dates for some upcoming races shown below are based on the placement in the racing calendar from 2018/2019. Similarly, the purses shown for upcoming races are based on the amounts from the previous year and will be updated when finalized.
The following preliminary list of races have been announced for the extension of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. These races have been added to the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Oaks as a result of the Oaks being run in September instead of May.
Dogwood Stakes (20-8-4-2)
1: Four Graces, 2: Edgeway, 3: Bayerness, 4: Lady Glamour
Acorn Stakes (G1, 50-20-10-5)
1: Gamine, 2: Pleasant Orb, 3: Water White, 4: Lucrezia
Delaware Oaks (G3, 50-20-10-5)
1: Project Whiskey 2: Dream Marie 3: Princess Cadey 4: Piece of My Heart
Indiana Oaks (G3, 20-8-4-2)
1: Shedaresthedevil 2: Impeccable Style 3: Bayerness 4: Fire Coral
Beaumont Stakes (G3, 20-8-4-2)
1: Four Graces 2: Sconsin 3: Turtle Trax 4: Wicked Whisper
Ashland Stakes (G1, 100-40-20-10)
1: Speech 2: Venetian Harbor 3: Envoutante 4: Bonny South
Coaching Club American Oaks (G1, 100-40-20-10) Saratoga, July 18
1: Paris Lights 2: Crystal Ball 3: Antoinette 4: Tonalist's Shape
Monmouth Oaks (G3, 50-20-10-5) Monmouth Park, August 1
1: Hopeful Growth 2: Project Whiskey 3: Eve of War 4: Dream Marie
Audubon Oaks (10-4-2-1)
1: Mundaye Call 2: Ocean Breeze 3: Sconsin 4: Truth Hurts
Alabama Stakes (G1, 100-40-20-10) Saratoga, August 15
1: Swiss Skydiver 2: Bonny South 3: Harvey's Lil Goil 4: Envoutante