The Kentucky Oaks 2026 horses are starting to assemble at Churchill Downs and in this report, I will take a look at the latest workouts, update the points standings, and share my top Oaks contenders.
Lorelei Lee, 15th on the Oaks points list, breezed a half-mile in 48.20 (11/32) at Churchill Downs on April 20.
I covered all of the Kentucky Oaks 2026 preps on my Runaway Horse YouTube channel, and after 31 points races, my top choices had 14 wins, 7 runner-up finishes, and 5 show finishes. My top choices showed a flat bet profit in this series.
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 4-20-26):
1 Meaning
2 Percy’s Bar
3 Bella Ballerina
4 Counting Stars
5 Prom Queen
6 Always a Runner
7 Explora
8 Zany
9 She Be Smooth
10 My Miss Mo
11 Search Party
12 Pashmina
13 Paradise
14 Bottle of Rouge
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15 Lorelei Lee
16 Brooklyn Blonde
17 Dazzling Dame
18 Lovely Grey
19 Nycon
20 Resist
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (4-20-26)
#1 – ZANY (American Pharoah – Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: My top ranked Oaks contender breezed four panels in 49.07 (7/10) at Palm Beach Downs on April 16 in company with fellow Oaks hopeful She Be Smooth. They went out 6f in 1:16.16 and Zany was in front on the gallop out. Todd Pletcher was happy that Zany switched leads on cue and showed nice energy on the gallop out.
#2 – MEANING (Gun Runner – Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: The Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks winner returned to the worktab for the first time since that heat. She went a half-mile in 48.60 (14/47) at Santa Anita on April 17.
#3 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: 5f bullet in 1:00.20 (1/22) at Keeneland on April 18. Since she was too eager early in the Grade 2 FG Oaks, Brendan Walsh has been getting her to relax behind stablemates in team drills. On April 18, she sat behind Diamond Eyed Jack and Get Them Roses, and she went inside those two and pulled clear by 2 lengths, and was clearly in front on the gallop out under Tyler Gaffalione. She wears blinkers in her races and has been working without them at Keeneland. They have no decided if she will removes blinkers for the Oaks.
#4 – PERCY’S BAR (Upstart – Honestly Deb, Super Saver) – Trainer: Ben Colebrook – Last Ranking (7)
Comments: This filly continues to post bullet works at Keeneland. She had four straight bullets prior to winning the Grade 1 Ashland, and she had a best of 30 move in 47.00 on April 16.
#5 – COUNTING STARS (Honor A. P. – Paynterbythenumbers, by Paynter) – Trainer: Mark Casse – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: She took advantage of Explora’s scratch and easily disposed of four rivals as the favorite in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn on March 27. She breezed a half-mile in 48.20 (8/59) on April 12 and has shipped to Churchill Downs.
Next Nine (Last workout/Recent workouts):
(6) Explora – 1st G3 Honeybee. 7f in 1:25 (1/1) at SA on April 18.
(7) Prom Queen – 1st G2 GP Oaks. 5f in 1:01.40 (6/8) at CD on April 16.
(8) Always a Runner – 1st G3 Gazelle. 4f in 49.00 (46/147) at BEL (dirt training) on April 18.
(9) Search Party – 2nd G2 Fantasy. 4f in 48.60 (12/59) at OP on April 12.
(10) Bottle of Rouge – 1st Virginia Oaks. 4f in 48.80 (19/47) at SA on April 17.
(11) She Be Smooth – 3rd G2 GP Oaks. 4f in 49.07 (7/10) at Palm Beach Downs on April 16.
12) Pashmina – 2nd G3 Gazelle. 4f in 47.97 (19/88) at BEL (dirt training) on April 17.
(13) My Miss Mo – 2nd G2 GP Oaks. 4f in 48.25 (1/7) at GP on April 15.
(14) Paradise – 3rd G3 Gazelle. 4f in 49.00 (29/61) at CD on April 17.
