Two more Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep races are in the books and Counting Stars and Prom Queen were both impressive winners. In this report, I will recap the Fantasy Stakes and Gulfstream Park 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 28 points races, my top choices have 13 wins, 5 runner-up finishes, and 5 show finishes. The next Kentucky Oaks points race is the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on Friday, April 3. The Gazelle Stakes and Santa Anita Oaks are the final two Oaks points races on Saturday, April 4.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn (3-27-26): Even money favorite Explora spiked a temperature and scratched, and that left a field of five. 41-1 longshot Empath set the pace as expected and her stablemate Counting Stars ($3.80) chased from second, took over, and cruised home by 5 1/2 lengths (92 BSF). Search Party rallied for the place and she was 9 1/2 lengths in front of clear show finisher Taken by the Wind. Sticker Shock was a disappointing fourth and Empath retreated to last. Francisco Arrieta rode the winner and Mark Casse saddled the winner and place finisher. Fractions: 24.07, 48.69, 1:13.68, 1:38.22, 1:44.47.
Grade 2 GP Oaks at Gulfstream Park (3-28-26): Prom Queen ($8.20) has really improved over a route of ground and she looked good stalking wide and running down My Miss Mo to win by 2 3/4 lengths. The latter controlled the pace under Tyler Gaffalione but could not go with Prom Queen late. She was 3 3/4 lengths clear of late running favorite She Be Smooth. Betty’s Pearl (4th), Nasti Z (5th), Just Singing (6th), and Haute Diva (7th) also ran. Javier Castellano rode the winner for Brad Cox. Fractions: 24.13, 48.52, 1:12.49, 1:37.64, 1:44.40.
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 – 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
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 3-28-26):
Life of Joy (122 points)
Bella Ballerina (110 points)
Counting Stars (100 points)
Prom Queen (100 points)
Explora (95 points)
She Be Smooth (75 points)
My Miss Mo (75 points)
Search Party (67.5 points)
Luv Your Neighbor (65 points)
Bottle of Rouge (57.5 points)
Lorelei Lee (50 points)
Labwah (50 points)
Forced Entry (50 points)
Taken by the Wind (48.75 points)
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Dazzling Dame (40.75 points)
Paradise (37.5 points)
On Time Girl (35 points)
Lovely Grey (35 points)
Bank Shot (31 points)
Zany (30 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (3-28-26)
#1 – ZANY (American Pharoah – Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: The early Kentucky Oaks favorite continues to prepare for the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on Friday, April 3. She has worked five times since winning the Suncoast on Feb. 7. Her last move was a half-mile breeze in 49.08 (2/15) at Palm Beach Downs on March 27.
#2 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: She dropped out of her top spot on my list when she lost for the time in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 21. Pretty Mischievous also finished second in the FG Oaks for these connections in 2023 prior to winning the Kentucky Oaks. This filly needs to relax better to handle a mile and an eighth.
#3 – MEANING (Gun Runner – Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: She has not missed a beat since returning from a layoff and capturing the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita on Feb. 8. She has worked six times since her last start including a 5f move in 1:00.20 (8/31) at Santa Anita on March 28. She goes next in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) on April 4.
#4 – EXPLORA (Blame – Collections Choice, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: Spiked a temperature and was forced to scratch from the Fantasy (G2) at Oaklawn on March 27. She has plenty of seasoning and is still targeting the Oaks if she recovers quickly. She was flattered when her vanquished Honeybee (G3) foe Counting Stars romped in the Fantasy Stakes.
#5 – COUNTING STARS (Honor A. P. – Paynterbythenumbers, by Paynter) – Trainer: Mark Casse – Last Ranking (6)
Comments: I don’t know what happened to her in the Martha Washington in February. Her other four stakes starts since December 2025 yielded three wins and a runner-up finish. She easily handled her stablemate Search Party in the Fantasy (G2), and that 5-horse affair was definitely a softer spot when Explora came down with a fever and scratched.
Next Nine: (6) Life of Joy, (7) Prom Queen, (8) Bottle of Rouge, (9) Forced Entry, (10) Search Party, (11) She Be Smooth, (12) Dazzling Dame, (13) On Time Girl, (14) Paradise
