Three Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep races were on the docket last week and Zany kept her perfect record intact with a victory in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7. A total of 17 Oaks points races have been run so far, and in this report, I will recap the Martha Washington, Suncoast, and Las Virgenes, update the points standings, and share my top five Oaks fillies.
I cover all of the Kentucky Oaks points races on my Runaway Horse YouTube channel, and through the first 17 points races, my top choices have 9 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 4 show finishes. There are two Oaks Points races this week, the Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14, and the Sunland Park Oaks on Feb. 15.
Atropa, a close third as the beaten favorite in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17, has not worked since that race. “We’re going to regroup with her,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “She needs some time. She will go to Florida and get a work-up done.”
Last year’s Spinaway (G1) and Alcibiades (G1) winner Tommy Jo was supposed to begin her 3-year-old campaign in the Forward Gal (G3) on Jan. 31 but had a setback and will be given some time off. They hope to bring her back to the races later this year.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps
Martha Washington at Oaklawn (2-6-26): Knickleandime (19-1) set the pace from the inside post and Maximum Offer (18-1) chased from second. Search Party ($10.20) stalked the pace along the rail, waited for running room, and moved out and fought hard in the stretch to prevail by a neck over 27-1 longshot Newtown Pike. Knickleandime held the show by a neck over Maximum Offer, and Hit Parade (5th), Spitfire (6th), Grace Is Free (7th), and beaten favorite Counting Stars (8th) also ran. Cristian Torres guided home the winner for Mark Casse. She received a BSF of 81 for her win on Friday. Fractions: 23.10, 47.83, 1:13.31, 1:39.10, 1:45.56.
Suncoast at Tampa Bay (2-7-26): Zany ($2.40) did not have the best trip and had to shake off some rust, but in the end she towered over her rivals and got the job done by 2 3/4 lengths (81 BSF). She was in traffic early, eased out and went after an early moving Life of Joy on the backside, and lugged in while attempting to change leads in the stretch. Despite all of that, she was confidently ridden under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and won handily. Life of Joy was clearly second best and Kadabra set a pressured pace and was best of the rest in third. Justamomentplease (4th), Tremont Tammy (5th), Lightscape (6th), and Y’allreadyforthis (7th) also ran. Fly Life scratched. Todd Pletcher saddled the winner. Fractions: 24.89, 49.55, 1:13.38, 1:38.20, 1:40.56.
Las Virgenes at Santa Anita (2-8-26): This 4-horse Kentucky Oaks prep was full of quality with the 1-2-4 BC Juvenile Fillies finishers. Super Corredora broke on top and Explora applied pressure. Bank Shot was third and Meaning trailed and all four runners were in the mix. Explora did all of the pace dirty work along the inside and Meaning ($7.80) made an early wide bid, battled with a stubborn Explora in the lane, and edged clear late to win by 1 1/2 lengths (79 BSF). Explora was a good second and Bank Shot went past a tiring, disappointing Super Corredora in the lane. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Michael McCarthy. Fractions: 22.57, 45.98, 1:10.59, 1:24.20, 1:38.39.
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 – Winner: Taken by the Wind ($10.80)
Forward Gal (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 31 – Winner: On Time Girl ($4.20)
Martha Washington (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 6 – Winner: Search Party ($10.20)
Suncoast (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 7 – Winner: Zany ($2.40)
Las Virgenes (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 8 – Winner: Meaning ($7.80)
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 2-10-26):
Explora (45 points)
Super Corredora (34 points)
Taken by the Wind (30 points)
Zany (30 points)
Meaning (26 points)
Dazzling Dame (22 points)
Life of Joy (22 points)
On Time Girl (20 points)
Search Party (20 points)
Luv Your Neighbor (15 points)
Percy’s Bar (14 points)
Hit Parade (12 points)
Atropa (11 points)
Iron Orchard (10 points)
Bella Ballerina (10 points)
Consequent (10 points)
La Wally (10 points)
Two Bits (10 points)
Newtown Pike (10 points)
Imperatrice (10 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (2-10-26)
#1 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: She signaled in her winning sprint bow last October that a stakes victory was in her future, and it did not take long for her to make the grade in the Golden Rod (G2) in November. She has worked six times at Fair Grounds this year including a half-mile move in 48.80 (15/134) on Feb. 7. She is entered in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14.
#2 – ZANY (American Pharoah – Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: Smartly won both starts as a juvenile including the Demoiselle (G2) in December, and she ran her record to 3-for-3 in her Suncoast return on Feb. 7. She will complete her Kentucky Oaks preparations in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 3.
#3 – MEANING (Gun Runner – Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (12)
Comments: She won her sprint debut at Los Alamitos Race Course last year and missed the show by a head in the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) second time out. She returned from a layoff and wore down Explora in the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita on Feb. 8. The Santa Ysabel on March 8 is the next Kentucky Oaks points race at Santa Anita, but they might wait for the SA Oaks on April 4.
#4 – EXPLORA (Blame – Collections Choice, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: The 2-time stakes winner battled on the pace and was second best in the Las Virgenes on Feb. 8. She has already raced twice this year and I would not be surprised if she skipped the Santa Ysabel and targeted the SA Oaks on April 4.
#5 – SEARCH PARTY (Gun Runner – Devious Charm, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Mark Casse – Last Ranking (11)
Comments: This one is rapidly improving. She lost her first three starts, and shipped to Oaklawn at aired by 6+ lengths in a special weight dirt route in December. I made her my value top choice in the Martha Washington Stakes and she stalked the pace and won by a neck at 4-1 odds. Her trainer Mark Casse said that she is possible for the Honeybee (G3) on March 1, or she might skip that race and target the Fantasy (G2) on March 27.
Next Nine: (6) On Time Girl, (7) Taken by the Wind, (8) Dazzling Dame, (9) Life of Joy, (10) Two Bits, (11) Imperatrice, (12) Super Corredora, (13) Bottle of Rouge, (14) Cashed
