The country's most storied race for three-year-old fillies takes place when a full field of 14 leave the starting gate in the 2022 Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs. The Todd Pletcher-trained Nest is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the 2022 Kentucky Oaks odds. Kathleen O. is the 7-2 second choice in the Kentucky Oaks field, while Echo Zulu is 4-1. Post time for the $1.25 million race is 5:51 p.m. ET.

With very little separating the top contenders, you NEED to see what racing reporter and analyst Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2022 Kentucky Oaks picks.

Few people in racing are as connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.

She also has tremendous handicapping chops. In the 2011 Run for the Roses, she correctly tabbed Animal Kingdom to win at a hefty 21-1. In the 2017 Breeders' Cup, she nailed 11-1 long shot Wuheida to win the Filly and Mare Turf. Last year, in a wide-open Run for the Roses, she gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1.

Since joining SportsLine in November, her picks have cashed in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Sham Stakes, El Camino Real Derby, San Felipe Stakes and Santa Anita Handicap. Anyone who has followed her is WAY UP.

Now, Yu has handicapped the 2022 Kentucky Oaks field, made her picks and constructed her bets.

One surprise: Yu is low on the chances of Kathleen O., even though she's one of the top favorites at 7-2. Another shocker: Yu is high on Shahama, even though she's a 15-1 long shot. "She seems to be training well, and she has overcome difficulties in races previously," Yu told SportsLine. Yu is including Shahama prominently in her 2022 Kentucky Oaks bets.

Moreover, Yu's top pick is a horse who "might be the most athletic horse out there." She also is high on a double-digit long shot who is an "outsider with a shot." She is including these horses in her 2022 Kentucky Oaks bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY need to see her picks before locking in any of your own!

So who wins the 2022 Kentucky Oaks? And what long shot is a MUST-BACK?... Join SportsLine right now to get the top 2022 Kentucky Oaks picks and bets, all from the well connected racing reporter who nailed last year's Kentucky Derby!