The 2026 Kentucky Oaks was a wide open race on paper and it played out that way in real time. Seventeen horses were initially entered and a baker’s dozen ran after four scratches (Bella Ballerina, Bottle of Rouge, My Miss Mo, Nycon).
Explora set the pace from the inside post but never got a breather with Dazzling Dame breathing down her neck. Explora eventually put away Dazzling Dame but had to work too hard to dispose of her pace rival. Meaning worked out a nice tactical trip from post 5 and poked her head in front in the lane, bur Always a Runner (Gun Runner – Always Carina, by Malibu Moon) was always within hailing distance and made her move in the stretch and showed off her stamina late, and she scored by a length and a quarter for Jose Ortiz and Chad Brown.
Meaning was second best in a quality effort and Counting Stars stalked the pace and edged Explora for the show by a neck. Prom Queen broke slow, raced wide, and finished 5th, and slight 5-1 favorite Zany (6th) was bumped at the start, raced inside from post 2, waited for racing room, and failed to quicken in the lane. Percy’s Bar (7th) raced wide and was no threat, and Dazzling Dame weakened to 8th. Resist (9th), Search Party (10th), Pashmina (11th), Lovely Grey (12th), and Brooklyn Blonde (13th) also ran.
Always a Runner was 2-for-2 heading into the Oaks and she was exiting a victory in the Grade 3 Gazelle at a mile and an eighth. She received a 94 BSF for her win on Friday and might have even more to offer as the year progresses. That is a scary proposition for her counterparts in this division.
Kentucky Oaks Fractions: 23.08, 46.85, 1:10.78, 1:35.82, 1:48.82.
Kentucky Oaks Wagering Rewind (Updated Tickets After Scratches)
Top 5 Finishers: 9-5-4-1-10
Total Amount Bet: $150
Total Amount Returned: $130.40
CD 13 (G1 Kentucky Oaks, 9f)
Primary – #2 ZANY, #9 Always a Runner
Secondary – #5 Meaning, #1 Explora, #10 Prom Queen, #4 Counting Stars
Oaks Wagers ($150):
Win ($50)
$30 to win #2
$20 to win #9 ($13.04) ($130.40)
Exacta ($18)
$12 Exacta 2-9
$6 Exacta 9-2
Trifecta ($48) Updated Tickets
$2 Trifecta 2-9/2-9/1-3-4-5-10-11 ($24)
$1 Trifecta 2-9/1-3-4-5-10-11/2-9 ($12)
$1 Trifecta 1-3-4-5-10-11/2-9/2-9 ($12)
Superfecta ($18) Updated Ticket
$1 Superfecta 2/1-9-10/1-9-10/4-5-11 ($18)
Super High 5 ($16)
$1 Super High Five: 2/5-9/1-5-9/1-5-9-10/1-4-5-9-
