The Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park was the latest Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep race and Explora cruised to a big win from off the pace as the favorite. A dozen Oaks points races have been run so far, and in this report, I will recap the Santa Ynez Stakes, update the points standings, and share my top five Oaks fillies.
I cover all of the Kentucky Oaks points race on my Runaway Horse YouTube channel, and through the first 12 points races, my top choices have 5 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 3 show finishes. The next Oaks points race is the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 3 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita (1-10-26): Bottle of Rouge scratched and that development left a 4-horse field. La Wally and Himika battled early and Revera and strong favorite Explora followed those two. Explora ($2.10) took some time to find her best stride and when she did she kicked away from this crew and won by 5 1/4 lengths at a distance shorter than her best. La Wally was second best and Revera and Himika completed the compact field. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 22.30, 44.21, 1:09.27, 1:22.05.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Results
Pocahontas (10-5-3-2-1) – Sep. 13 – Winner: Taken by the Wind ($14.10)
Alcibiades (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 3 – Winner: Tommy Jo ($2.88)
Frizette (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 4 – Winner: Iron Orchard ($6.90)
Oak Leaf (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 4 – Winner: Explora ($2.80)
Rags to Riches (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 26 – Winner: Life of Joy ($3.68)
BC Juvenile Fillies (30-15-9-6-3) – Oct. 31 – Winner: Super Corredora ($19.60)
Golden Rod (10-5-3-2-1) – Nov. 29 – Winner: Bella Ballerina ($10.28)
Demoiselle (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 6 – Winner: Zany ($3.50)
Starlet (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 6 – Winner: Consequent ($7.60)
Untapable (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 20 – Winner: Hit Parade ($6.60)
Busanda (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 3 – Winner: Dazzling Dame ($6.24)
Santa Ynez (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 10 – Winner: Explora ($2.10)
Silverbulletday (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 17
Forward Gal (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 31
Martha Washington (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 31
Suncoast (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 7
Las Virgenes (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 8
Rachel Alexandra (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 14
Sunland Park Oaks (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 15
Cincinnati Trophy (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 20
UAE Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 21
Busher (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 28
Davona Dale (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 28
Honeybee (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1
Santa Ysabel (50-25-15-10-5) – March 8
Virginia Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – March 14
Bourbonette Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – March 21
FG Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 21
Fantasy (100-50-25-15-10) – March 27
GP Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 28
Ashland (100-50-25-15-10) – April 3
Gazelle (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4
SA Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4
Top 20 Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Leaders (thru 1-12-26):
Explora (35 points)
Super Corredora (30 points)
Dazzling Dame (22 points)
Percy’s Bar (14 points)
Tommy Jo (13 points)
Life of Joy (12 points)
Iron Orchard (10 points)
Bella Ballerina (10 points)
Zany (10 points)
Taken by the Wind (10 points)
Consequent (10 points)
Hit Parade (10 points)
La Wally (10 points)
The Grumpy Rabbit (8 points)
Believable (7 points)
Meaning (6 points)
Rileytole (5 points)
Jumping the Gun (5 points)
Atropa (5 points)
Miss Complicated (5 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (1-12-26)
#1 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: She did nothing wrong in back-to-back wins last year. She beat Atropa in the Golden Rod (G2) in November and she is spending the winter in Louisiana. She breezed twice this month at Fair Grounds including a half-mile move in 48.60 (18/70) on Jan. 10.
#2 – ZANY (American Pharoah – Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: Todd Pletcher’s filly easily won both starts last year including the Demoiselle (G2). She has worked three times at Palm Beach Downs since the Demoiselle including a half-mile move in 48.80 (3/13) on Jan. 10.
#3 – SUPER CORREDORA (Gun Runner – Super Simple, by Super Saver) – Trainer: John Sadler – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: She wired the field in her last two starts including the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1). She shows five works at Santa Anita since her last outing including a 5f bullet in 59.20 (1/50) on Jan. 11. The Las Virgenes is her next race and that event will be run on Feb. 8 instead of Feb. 1 because of the Santa Ynez getting delayed a week earlier this month.
#4 – ATROPA (Into Mischief – Bellera, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Cherie DeVaux – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: Her final juvenile start resulted in a runner-up finish in the Golden Rod (G2). She has breezed three times at Fair Grounds since her last start including a 5f move in 1:02.20 (22/29) on Jan. 9. She is entered in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17.
#5 – EXPLORA (Blame – Collections Choice, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: She earned a BSF of 85 for her easy win in the Santa Ynez (G3) at Santa Anita on Jan. 10. She will get back around two turns next time. The Las Virgenes on Feb. 8 is the next Oaks points race at Santa Anita, and I would not be surprised to see this one wait for the Santa Ysabel on March 8.
