There were three Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep races this week and second time starter She Be Smooth announced her presence in an emphatic last-to-first victory in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 28. In this report, I will recap the Busher, Davona Dale, and Honeybee, 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 23 points races, my top choices have 11 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 5 show finishes. The next Kentucky Oaks points race is the Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita Park on Sunday, March 8.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps
Busher Stakes at Aqueduct (2-28-26): The track was listed as good and Current Yield and Interstatelovesong dueled on the lead, and race favorite Paradise chased from third. Interstatelovesong took the lead and Paradise ($4.72) immediately pounced on the new leader and edged clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths (78 BSF). Nycon stalked from fourth and got past Interstatelovesong by a neck for the place. Current Yield weakened to fourth and Blazing Brat trailed throughout. Manny Franco rode the winner for Brad Cox. Fractions: 23.38, 46.75, 1:11.56, 1:24.64, 1:38.53.
Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park (2-28-26): Omaha Bay set the pace and Imperatrice chased from second, and neither of those fillies were around at the end. My Miss Mo chased from third from the inside post but was no match for She Be Smooth ($13.60), The latter was patiently handled at the back of the pack early. She was at least 6 lengths behind the next-to-last runner after the opening quarter and was still far back after a half-mile. She started making up some ground along the inside with two furlongs to go and was passing rivals like they were tied to a pole. She got a great inside/outside closing trip under Flavien Prat, and she angled out in the stretch and won by 6 lengths (91 BSF). My Miss Mo held the place by a half-length over beaten favorite On Time Girl. The aforementioned chalk had a wide trip while out in the clear from the outside post and was best of the rest in third. Omaha Bay weakened to fourth and was followed by Haute Diva, Swing Vote, and Imperatrice. Todd Pletcher saddled the winner. Fractions: 23.48, 46.15, 1:11.36, 1:24.67, 1:37.38.
Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park (3-1-26): Knickleandime set the pace as expected and even money favorite Explora ($4) chased from second, secured the lead, and held off Counting Stars to win by 3/4ths of a length. The latter raced wide and closed nicely in a clear runner-up finish. Sneaky Good stalked inside and finished an okay third, and Search Party was an even fourth. Knickleandime weakened to 5th and Grace Is Free (6th), Classic Glide (7th), Taken by the Wind (8th), and Take Charge Macy (9th) also ran. Newtown Pike scratched. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Bob Baffert and she is the new Kentucky Oaks points leader with 95. Fractions: 23.45, 47.70, 1:12.49, 1:37.33, 1:43.52.
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
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 3-1-26):
Explora (95 points)
Bella Ballerina (60 points)
Labwah (50 points)
She Be Smooth (50 points)
Luv Your Neighbor (40 points)
Paradise (37.5 points)
On Time Girl (35 points)
Super Corredora (34 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)
Dazzling Dame (22 points)
Life of Joy (22 points)
Sneaky Good (21 points)
Bottle of Rouge (20 points)
Resplendence (20 points)
Nycon (18.75 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (3-1-26)
#1 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: The unbeaten filly began her sophomore campaign with a gutsy triumph in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14. She got back on the worktab with a half-mile move in 48.80 (20/127) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 28. 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: This talented filly is 3-for-3 for Todd Pletcher. She wrapped up her juvenile season with a victory in the Demoiselle (G2) at nine panels, and she began 2026 with a victory as the overwhelming favorite in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7 (81 BSF). She returned to the worktab with a half-mile breeze in 49.85 (4/8) at Palm Beach Downs on Feb. 26. 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 defeated Explora in the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita on Feb. 8 (79 BSF), and Bob Baffert’s filly returned to take the Honeybee (G3) on March 1. She got back to work with a half-mile move in 48.40 (59/115) at Santa Anita on Feb. 22, and she went a half-mile in 48.80 (40/68) on Feb. 28. Her next start has not been confirmed. The Santa Ysabel on March 8 remains a possibility, 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: Bob Baffert’s gem on consistency fires exacta shots every time (7 4-3-0). She has already run three times this year and picked up the third stakes victory of her career in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn on March 1. She probably goes next in the Fantasy at Oaklawn on March 27 or the SA Oaks at Santa Anita Park on April 4.
#5 – SHE BE SMOOTH (Lexitonian – Seattle Smooth, by Quiet American) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (unranked)
Comments: This unraced 2-year-old filly is rapidly developing. She was 9-2 in her flat mile bow at Gulfstream (Jan. 23), and she stalked and scored by 2 lengths. She defeated race favorite and FTS Prom Queen (Brad Cox) in her debut, and the latter romped by 8 lengths as the favorite in a dirt route second time out on Feb. 12. This filly was visually impressing when going last-to-first in the Davona Dale (G2) at one mile (one turn) on Feb. 28 (91 BSF). The Kentucky Oaks is her spring goal and the GP Oaks on March 28 is a logical next stop.
Next Nine: (6) Counting Stars, (7) Search Party, (8) Dazzling Dame, (9) Bottle of Rouge, (10) Luv Your Neighbor, (11) On Time Girl, (12) Life of Joy, (13) Super Corredora, (14) Paradise
