The Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes was the big Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep race last week and my top ranked Oaks filly Bella Ballerina ran her record to 3-for-3 with a gutsy performance. A total of 19 Oaks points races have been run so far, and in this report, I will recap the Rachel Alexandra and Sunland 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 the first 19 points races, my top choices have 10 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 4 show finishes. The next Kentucky Oaks points race is the Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park on Friday, Feb. 20.
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps
Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds (2-14-26): Bella Ballerina made the running and Luv Your Neighbor chased from second, and those two dominated throughout. Luv Your Neighbor took a short lead in the stretch and it looked like she might win, but Bella Ballerina ($3.60) bravely fought back along the rail and scored by a half-length under Tyler Gaffalione. Luv Your Neighbor was second best and Just Singing rallied to finish a clear third. Powered by Family (4th), Classic Glide (5th), and Majestical (6th) also ran. Brendan Walsh saddled the winner and she received a BSF of 84 for her victory on Saturday. Fractions: 23.40, 46.98, 1:11.43, 1:36.75, 1:43.38.
Sunland Park Oaks at Sunland Park (2-15-26): Cashed carved out the fractions for six panels before fading out of contention. Strong favorite Bottle of Rouge ($2.80) staked from third, took the lead, raced erratically in the stretch and bothered Pashmina, and straightened up and won by a length and a half (86 BSF). Touch of Magic rallied late for the place and Pashmina was best of the rest in third. Coffee Connection (4th), Not a Lady (5th), Cashed (6th), and In the Aggregate (7th) also ran. Ivy Girl scratched. There was an inquiry and objection and the stewards looked at the stretch incident involving Bottle of Rouge and Pashmina but there was no change to the order of finish. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 23.85, 46.80, 1:10.56, 1:23.47, 1:35.82.
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
UAE Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 21
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 2-16-26):
Bella Ballerina (60 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)
Dazzling Dame (22 points)
Life of Joy (22 points)
Bottle of Rouge (20 points)
On Time Girl (20 points)
Search Party (20 points)
Just Singing (18 points)
Percy’s Bar (14 points)
Pashmina (13 points)
Hit Parade (12 points)
Atropa (11 points)
Touch of Magic (10 points)
Iron Orchard (10 points)
Consequent (10 points)
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2026 Contenders (2-16-26)
#1 – BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense – Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: She made a successful return in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14. She set the pace, lost the lead, and battled back along the inside to win by a half-length (84 BSF). She will run next in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 21 or the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland on April 3. The Godolphin management team will make a final decision on her next start in the near future.
#2 – ZANY (American Pharoah – Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: Received a BSF of 81 for her victory as the strong favorite in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7. Last year’s Demoiselle (G2) winner is now 3-for-3 and will run next in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 3.
#3 – MEANING (Gun Runner – Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: The Las Virgenes at Santa Anita on Feb. 8 was her first start of the year and she beat Explora by a length and a half (79 BSF). She exited that race in good order and her trainer Michael McCarthy will make a decision on her next start after she returns to the worktab. 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: This consistent filly finished first or second in all six starts. She won the Oak Leaf (G2) last year and started 2026 with a victory in the Santa Ynez., and she was clearly second best in the Las Virgenes on Feb. 8. The Santa Ysabel is the next Kentucky Oaks points race at Santa Anita Park, followed by the Santa Anita Oaks on April 4. She has plenty of seasoning and currently ranks second on the Oaks points list, so I would not be surprised to see skip the Santa Ysabel and target the SA Oaks.
#5 – SEARCH PARTY (Gun Runner – Devious Charm, by Into Mischief) – Trainer: Mark Casse – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: She is developing nicely for Mark Casse. She captured her last two dirt routes at Oaklawn including the Martha Washington on Feb. 6 (79 BSF). She is possible for the Honeybee (G3) on March 1, the Fantasy (G2) on March 27, or the Ashland (G1) on April 3.
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
