The final three Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep races are in the books and Percy’s Bar, Meaning, and Always a Runner punched their tickets to Louisville. In this report, I will recap the Ashland, SA Oaks, and Gazelle, update the points standings, and share my top five Oaks fillies.
I covered all of the Kentucky Oaks preps on my Runaway Horse YouTube channel, and my top choices had 14 wins, 7 runner-up finishes, and 5 show finishes (31 races). My top choices showed a flat bet profit in this series.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland (8.5f): The track was listed as good. Zany was the strong favorite and Percy’s Bar was making her first start since finishing third in the G1 BC Juvenile Fillies last fall. It came down to those two and Percy’s Bar ($7.12) never left the rail. She saved all the ground tracking French Friction, and she scooted up the rail in the stretch and won by 2 1/4 lengths (87 BSF). Zany raced in traffic early, stalked outside, changed leads late, and was clearly second best. Star Actress rallied from last of 6 from the outside post to finish a clear third. French Friction weakened to fourth and Omaha Bay and Hollybygolly also ran. Luan Machado rode the winner for Ben Colebrook. Fractions: 24.70, 50.37, 1:15.24, 1:39.47, 1:45.72.
Grade 2 SA Oaks at Santa Anita Park (8.5f): A pair of stablemates dominated this Oaks prep. Brooklyn Blonde stalked outside and had a clean journey, and she briefly looked home free, but race favorite Meaning ($3.80) was able to work her way out of inside traffic, and she angled out and edged away late to win by 2 lengths (85 BSF). Brooklyn Blonde was 13 3/4 lengths in front of show finisher Bank Shot. Red Cherry (4th), French Blue (5th), and Hypergamy (6th) also ran. Second betting choice Forced Entry pulled up early and walked off. Fractions: 22.88, 46.55, 1:11.15, 1:37.58, 1:43.99.
Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct (9f): My 6-1 top choice Pashmina made the running and almost went all the way. Chad Brown’s second time starter Always a Runner ($11.38) stayed within striking range throughout and was the only one with a chance to catch Pashmina, and she had the best late energy and won by a length and a quarter (89 BSF). Pashmina was 8 3/4 lengths in front of show finisher and beaten favorite Paradise. Nycon was another head back in fourth and Two Bits (5th), Slow Kara (6th), Baffle (7th), and Victory Hall (8th) also ran. Dylan Davis rode the winner. Fractions: 23.84, 48.51, 1:13.00, 1:38.22, 1:50.97.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Results (Top Choice Winners Bolded)
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 – Bella Ballerina ($3.60)
Sunland Park Oaks (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 15 – Bottle of Rouge ($2.80)
Cincinnati Trophy (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 20 – Winner: Resplendence ($25.42)
UAE Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 21 – Winner: Labwah
Busher (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 28 – Winner: Paradise ($4.72)
Davona Dale (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 28 – Winner: She Be Smooth ($13.60)
Honeybee (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1 – Winner: Explora ($4.00)
Santa Ysabel (50-25-15-10-5) – March 8 – Winner: Forced Entry ($7.60)
Virginia Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – March 14 – Winner: Bottle of Rouge ($3.60)
Bourbonette Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – March 21 – Winner: Lorelei Lee ($23.98)
FG Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 21 – Winner: Life of Joy ($9.40)
Fantasy (100-50-25-15-10) – March 27 – Winner: Counting Stars ($3.80)
GP Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 28 – Winner: Prom Queen ($8.20)
Ashland (100-50-25-15-10) – April 3 – Winner: Percy’s Bar ($7.12)
Gazelle (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4 – Winner: Always a Runner ($11.38)
SA Oaks (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4 – Winner: Meaning ($3.80)
Top 20 Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Leaders (thru 4-5-26):
1 Meaning (126 points)
2 Life of Joy (122 points)
3 Percy’s Bar (114 points)
4 Bella Ballerina (110 points)
5 Counting Stars (100 points)
6 Prom Queen (100 points)
7 Always a Runner (100 points)
8 Explora (95 points)
9 Zany (80 points)
10 She Be Smooth (75 points)
11 My Miss Mo (75 points)
12 Search Party (67.5 points)
13 Luv Your Neighbor (65 points)
14 Pashmina (63 points)
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15 Paradise (62.5 points)
16 Bottle of Rouge (57.5 points)
17 Bank Shot (56 ponts)
18 Lorelei Lee (50 points)
19 Labwah (50 points)
20 Forced Entry (50 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (4-5-26)
#1 – ZANY (American Pharoah – Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: Lost for the first time in a clear runner-up finish in the Ashland (G1). She raced in traffic just like she did in the Suncoast, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. was able to get her in the clear. Percy’s Bar got a dream inside run and this filly stalked wide, changed leads late, and ran through the wire and galloped out with energy. She won the Demoiselle (G2) at a mile and an eighth and figures to enjoy the added ground at Churchill.
#2 – MEANING (Gun Runner – Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: She won both stakes routes this year and is lightly raced and slowly getting faster. Rags to Riches (2007) was the last horse to win the SA Oaks and Ky Oaks, and Abel Tasman (2017) was the last horse to compete in the SA Oaks (2nd) and win the Ky Oaks.
#3 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: The 2-time Grade 2 winner (Golden Rod, Rachel Alexandra) settled for the place as the beaten favorite in the FG Oaks (G2). She began her Ky Oaks training with a half-mile breeze in 48.20 (13/96) at KEE on April 4. Brendan Walsh, Tyler Gaffalione, and Godolphin won the 2023 Ky Oaks with Bella Ballerina’s half-sister Pretty Mischievous, and she was also exiting a runner-up finish in the FG Oaks (G2).
#4 – LIFE OF JOY (Gun Runner – Jordan’s Leo, Malibu Moon) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (6)
Comments: This one checks multiple boxes. She is a stakes winner at CD and exits a smart score in the FG Oaks, and Brad Cox has saddled three Ky Oaks winners including 2025 FG Oaks/KY Oaks winner Good Cheer. This filly breezed a half-mile in 49.60 (18/19) at CD on April 3.
#5 – COUNTING STARS (Honor A. P. – Paynterbythenumbers, by Paynter) – Trainer: Mark Casse – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: Won two stakes at OP last year, and in a trio of 2026 stakes starts, she was 8th in the Martha Washington, 2nd in the Honeybee (G3), and first in the Fantasy (G2). She is sharp and versatile, and her numbers continue to climb.
Next Nine: (6) Explora, (7) Percy’s Bar, (8) Prom Queen, (9) Always a Runner, (10) Search Party, (11) She Be Smooth, (12) Pashmina, (13) My Miss Mo, (14) Luv Your Neighbor
