There were two Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep races last week and the winners of those events romped on the front end. In this report, I will recap the UAE Oaks and Cincinnati Trophy, 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 20 points races, my top choices have 10 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 4 show finishes. The next Kentucky Oaks points race is the Busher at Aqueduct on Feb. 28. The Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park will also be contested on Feb. 28, and the other Oaks points race this week is the Honeybee at Oaklawn on March 1.
Busher field: 1 – Nycon, 2 – Current Yield, 3 – Paradise, 4 – Blazing Brat, 5 – Interstatelovesong
Davona Dale field: 1 – My Miss Mo, 2 – Blazing Brat, 3 – Paradise, 4 – Omaha Bay, 5 – Imperatrice, 6 – Haute Diva, 7 – Swing Vote, 8 – She Be Smooth, 9 – On Time Girl
Honeybee field: 1 – Take Charge Macy (20-1), 2 – Sneaky Good (8-1), 3 – Grace is Free (30-1), 4 – Newtown Pike (10-1), 5 – Knickleanddime (12-1), 6 – Search Party (9-2), 7 – Counting Stars (15-1), 8 – Classic Glide (30-1), 9 – Explora (7-5), 10 – Taken by the Wind (5-2).
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 3 UAE Oaks at Meydan (2-20-26): Labwah was the favorite and she ran to her odds. She made the running (slow pace), turned back two rivals at the midway point, and kicked away to win by 7 1/2 lengths. Yuno was clearly second best and Dozalla was along for the show. Labwah completed her about 1 3/16 miles journey in 2:00.57. A tilt against males in the UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup night has not been ruled out, or she could target the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park (2-20-26): Resplendence ($25.42) got an easy lead from the inside post through slow fractions and was never challenged. She stayed clear throughout and won by 2 3/4 lengths (84 BSF). Lovely Grey sat in midpack and was clearly second best, and Resist stalked from post 11 and was best of the rest in third. Rip Current (4th), Map of the Moon (5th), Wonzee Weather (6th), Belle of the Barn (7th), Easter Promise (8th), Coco Connect (9th), Emily’s Joy (10th), and race favorite Dame Laura also ran. The latter had early trouble and was pulled up (injured), and left the track on the equine ambulance. Alberto Burgos rode the winner for Paulo Lobo. Fractions: 25.00, 50.82, 1:15.83, 1:28.05, 1;40.69.
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
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 2-23-26):
Bella Ballerina (60 points)
Labwah (50 points)
Explora (45 points)
Luv Your Neighbor (40 points)
Super Corredora (34 points)
Taken by the Wind (30 points)
Zany (30 points)
Meaning (26 points)
Yuno (25 points)
Dazzling Dame (22 points)
Life of Joy (22 points)
Bottle of Rouge (20 points)
On Time Girl (20 points)
Search Party (20 points)
Resplendence (20 points)
Just Singing (18 points)
Dozalla (15 points)
Percy’s Bar (14 points)
Pashmina (13 points)
Hit Parade (12 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (2-23-26)
#1 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: She exited her game victory in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14 in good order. She set the pace, lost the lead, and battled back along the inside to win by a half-length last time (84 BSF). It has been confirmed that she will run next in the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 21.
#2 – ZANY (American Pharoah – Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: Todd Pletcher’s talented filly is a perfect 3-for-3. She won the Demoiselle (G2) at nine panels to end her juvenile campaign, and she started 2026 with a victory as the strong favorite in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7 (81 BSF). The Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 3 is her next assignment.
#3 – MEANING (Gun Runner – Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: She returned from a layoff to capture the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita on Feb. 8 (79 BSF). She got back on the worktab with a half-mile move in 48.40 (59/115) at Santa Anita on Feb. 22. Her next start has not been determined. The Santa Ysabel on March 8 remains in play, or they could wait for the Santa Anita Oaks on April 4.
#4 – EXPLORA (Blame – Collections Choice, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: She aways runs her race for Bob Baffert. She won the Oak Leaf (G2) last year and was second in the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1). She began 2026 with a win in the Santa Ynez, and she was clearly second best in the Las Virgenes on Feb. 8. She drilled a 5f bullet in 59.00 (1/45) at Santa Anita on Feb. 21. She is entered in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn on March 1.
#5 – SEARCH PARTY (Gun Runner – Devious Charm, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Mark Casse – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: Won her last two dirt routes at Oaklawn including the Martha Washington on Feb. 6 (79 BSF). She is entered in the Honeybee (G3) on March 1.
Next Nine: (6) On Time Girl, (7) Taken by the Wind, (8) Dazzling Dame, (9) Bottle of Rouge, (10) Luv Your Neighbor, (11) Life of Joy, (12) Two Bits, (13) Imperatrice, (14) Super Corredora
