The $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park on February 8 features a competitive field of six fillies and mares set to battle over 1 1/16 miles. The race could have implications for Kentucky Derby betting as the top older female runners continue establishing themselves early in the season.

The road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby continues this weekend at Tampa Bay Downs with the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes. As one of the key Kentucky Derby Prep Races, the event offers 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top five finishers, making it a crucial stepping stone toward Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Derby Prep Races may be in full swing. Still, older horses continue to make headlines, with "El Potente" delivering a standout performance in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita. With Kentucky Derby betting intensifying and Kentucky Derby odds shifting for top three-year-olds, "El Potente"’s breakthrough victory highlights the importance of patience and development in thoroughbred racing.

The Kentucky Derby Prep Races continue to shape the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, and one filly making waves is "Volleyballprincess". After a dominant gate-to-wire victory in the Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct, trainer Louis Linder Jr. is considering stretching her out in the distance for the Busher Stakes on March 1.With Kentucky Derby betting intensifying and Kentucky Derby odds fluctuating for both colts and fillies, "Volleyballprincess" could emerge as a serious contender in the three-year-old filly division.

While the focus of early-season racing is often on the Kentucky Derby Prep Races, top fillies are also making headlines as they prepare for the Kentucky Oaks. On Feb. 4 at Santa Anita, "Tenma" proved why she is one of the leading contenders, delivering an effortless 6 ½-length victory in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes. With Kentucky Derby betting heating up, her dominance in the filly division makes her a name to watch, and Kentucky Derby odds for her male counterparts may shift as she sets a substantial standard for three-year-olds.