The $250,000 Virginia Oaks was the latest Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep race and Bottle of Rouge made it two straight points race victories. In this report, I will recap the Virginia Oaks, 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 25 points races, my top choices have 12 wins, 4 runner-up finishes, and 5 show finishes. The next Kentucky Oaks points race is the Fair Grounds Oaks on Saturday, March 21 and the winner will receive 100 Oaks points. The Bourbonette Oaks on all-weather ground at Turfway Park will also be run on March 21 and the winner gets 50 points.
Fair Grounds Oaks field (race 11 at Fair Grounds on March 21): 1 – Miss Metoyer, 2 – Newtown Pike, 3 – Maximum Offer, 4 – Luv Your Neighbor, 5 – Bella Ballerina, 6 – Life of Joy, 7 – Love and Trust.
Bourbonette Oaks field (race 11 at Turfway Park on March 21): 1 – Resplendence, 2 – Resist, 3 – Beara Peninsula, 4 – Blazing Brat, 5 – Scratch It, 6 – Callmeyourmajesty, 7 – Maximum Offer, 8 – Bless Her, 9 – Lovely Grey, 10 – La Ville Lumiere, 11 – Lorelei Lee, 12 – Wonzee Weather.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps
Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs (3-14-26): This event at a mile and a sixteenth around one turn was reduced to five runners following the defection of Somemunny to Love. Inside speed Dazzling Dame broke fourth and moved up along the rail to set the tempo. She never got away from Bottle of Rouge ($3.60) and the latter had this race won around the final turn, and she gradually pulled clear to score by 4 1/4 lengths (87 BSF). Dazzling Dame was clearly second best and Baffle rallied from far back to finish a clear third. Hit Parade and Kadabra also ran. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 22.61, 45.64, 1:09.74, 1:34.64, 1:41.41.
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 – 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
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 3-15-26):
Explora (95 points)
Bella Ballerina (60 points)
Bottle of Rouge (57.5 points)
Labwah (50 points)
She Be Smooth (50 points)
Forced Entry (50 points)
Dazzling Dame (40.75 points)
Luv Your Neighbor (40 points)
Paradise (37.5 points)
On Time Girl (35 points)
Super Corredora (34 points)
Bank Shot (31 points)
Taken by the Wind (30 points)
Search Party (30 points)
Zany (30 points)
Meaning (26 points)
Counting Stars (25 points)
My Miss Mo (25 points)
Life of Joy (22 points)
Sneaky Good (21 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (3-15-26)
#1 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: She has been my top ranked Oaks filly since I started my list last year. The Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) winner received a BSF of 84 for that prominent throughout win at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 14. She has worked three since her last start including a half-mile move in 48.80 (30/117) at the Fair Grounds on March 14. She is entered in the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 21.
#2 – ZANY (American Pharoah – Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: The early Kentucky Oaks favorite continues to prepare for the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on Friday, April 3. She started her sophomore campaign with a win as the favorite in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7 (81 BSF). She has worked three times since winning the Suncoast. Her last move was a 5f breeze in 1:00.31 (1/2) at Palm Beach Downs on March 12.
#3 – MEANING (Gun Runner – Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: She returned from a layoff and defeated subsequent Honeybee (G3) winner Explora in the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita on Feb. 8 (79 BSF). She has worked four times since her last start including a 5f move in 1:00.60 (13/53) at Santa Anita on March 14. She might run next in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) on April 4.
#4 – EXPLORA (Blame – Collections Choice, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: She fired exacta shots in all seven starts and looked good winning the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn on March 1 (88 BSF). She worked 4f in 49.00 (19/36) on March 13 and probably goes next in the Grade 2, $1 million Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn on March 27.
#5 – SHE BE SMOOTH (Lexitonian – Seattle Smooth, by Quiet American) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: She closed powerfully to win the Davona Dale (G2) at one mile (one turn) Feb. 28 (91 BSF). She breezed 4f in 50.70 (14/20) at Palm Beach Downs on March 13. The Grade 2 GP Oaks on March 28 might be next.
Next Nine: (6) Counting Stars, (7) Bottle of Rouge, (8) Forced Entry, (9) Search Party, (10) Dazzling Dame, (11) Luv Your Neighbor, (12) Life of Joy, (13) On Time Girl, (14) Paradise
