LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Welcome to primetime, ladies.A fantastic renewal of the GI Kentucky Oaks is on tap, and, for the first time, will be held beneath the lights with an 8:40 p.m. ET post time at Churchill Downs Friday evening.Trainer Brad Cox will be shooting for a fourth Kentucky Oaks trophy with the very promising GII Gulfstream Park Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Prom Queen (Quality Road).The legendary and much-missed duo of Woody Stephens and D. Wayne Lukas share the record for most Kentucky Oaks victories with five.“I'm O.K. with the Oaks being run at night,” the Louisville native Cox said. “I don't think it matters a whole lot and it shouldn't affect the horses.”As for Prom Queen, Cox added, “She's training really well and doing everything the right way.”From the female family of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), the Gary and Mary West homebred should certainly appreciate this 1 1/8-mile distance. Her sire Quality Road is responsible for 2017 Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman.Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trainer Michael McCarthy are no strangers to the bright lights in Louisville this weekend.The team behind last year's valiant GI Kentucky Derby runner-up and GI Preakness S. winner Journalism (Curlin) are back with the talented GII Santa Anita Oaks heroine Meaning (Gun Runner).“It's a lot quieter than it was last year, that's for sure,” Eclipse President & Founder Aron Wellman said with a laugh. “Even though she's the second choice on the morning line, she's quietly flying in a bit under the radar.”What are your thoughts on this new time slot?“I'm a huge proponent of the innovation and the courage to take a chance by moving the Oaks into primetime,” Wellman said. “It's clear that the industry needs to adjust our ways in some fashion, and, if this is a starting point, then I'm in favor of it.”He continued, “That being said, I certainly have my concerns as a horseman, specifically as it relates to fillies. This arguably the biggest moment of their careers and to take them into a unique environment under the lights where there's gonna be 100,000+ fans, it is any horseman's concern how they might react. I think the intent is positive though and therefore I'm largely supportive.”The top two finishers from the GI Central Bank Ashland S. will look to settle the score with a highly anticipated rematch.Repole Stable's Zany (American Pharoah) suffered her first career defeat that day chasing home Hat Creek Racing's 'Rising Star' Percy's Bar (Upstart) into the short stretch at Keeneland. The 4-1 morning-line favorite romped by 8 1/2 lengths in last fall's GII Demoiselle S. at this same distance.“We've been training her early to get her used to being under the lights,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “With the race so late, we want her to be ready for that environment.”Percy's Bar, meanwhile, returns to the site of her five-length score in last spring's Debutante S. She closed out her 2-year-old campaign with a troubled third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.The deep Kentucky Oaks field also includes the two-for-two GIII Gazelle S. winner and 'Rising Star' Always a Runner (Gun Runner); the rail-drawn GIII Honeybee S. winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up 'Rising Star' Explora (Blame); and GII Fantasy S. winner Counting Stars (Honor A. P.).With the early scratches of My Miss Mo (Uncle Mo), Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) and Bella Ballerina (Street Sense), all three also eligibles–Lovely Grey (Vekoma), Nycon (Nyquist) and Resist (Maclean's Music)–are now in.Live coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN, leading into the first-ever Kentucky Oaks broadcast in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.Friday's forecast in the Louisville area is a pleasant one, with partly cloudy skies and a high of 63 degrees expected.“By moving the Kentucky Oaks to primetime, we're giving one of horse racing's most treasured traditions the national stage it deserves,” said CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen. “This decision is rooted in our commitment to growing the sport, reaching new audiences and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans.”The post Friday Night Lights: Kentucky Oaks Takes Centerstage in Primetime appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.