Ten to follow on the Road to the 2027 Kentucky Oaks

Sep 10, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Summer Starlet wins the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga.

Summer Starlet wins the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Just as the Road to the Kentucky Derby kicks off with Saturday’s Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs, so does its sister race, the Pocahontas (G3), open the Road to the Kentucky Oaks for fillies.

We’ll continue the parallel by offering 10 promising fillies to follow, to complement the list of 10 potential Derby hopefuls to watch.

Saratoga standouts

Summer Starlet – Unbeaten Spinaway romper

Owners: BC Stables, Wattswood Stables et al.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Yearling sale: $335,000 Keeneland September
Pedigree: City of Light-Act Now, by Street Sense

After rallying to a 6 1/2-length debut win at Saratoga, Summer Starlet followed up with another dynamic display in the Spinaway (G1). The 1.62-1 favorite beat the winners of the division’s stakes earlier in the meet. Spinaway runner-up Harper’s Corner previously romped in the Schuylerville S., and the Spinaway fourth, Stress Relief, had won the Adirondack (G3).

Summer Starlet earned a strong 99 Brisnet Speed rating for clocking 1:22.72 in the seven-furlong Spinaway. If not as fast as the jaw-dropping colt U. S. S. Valor, Summer Starlet was faster than the other impressive maiden-winning colt on the same day, Pharocity.

Forever Carina – Sister to Kentucky Oaks winner

Owner/breeder: Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Chad Brown
Yearling sale: $850,000 RNA (not sold) Keeneland September
Pedigree: Gun Runner-Always Carina, by Malibu Moon

A full sister to reigning Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Always a Runner, Forever Carina suggested that she has similar potential in her Saratoga debut. The 1.59-1 favorite raced more than a dozen lengths behind a fast pace, but closed stoutly to prevail by two lengths. Forever Carina notched a 97 Brisnet Late Pace rating in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, and she’s the type to thrive going longer.

Always a Runner didn’t even start her career until February, demanding an accelerated timeline just to qualify for the Oaks. Forever Carina, her younger sister (and stablemate), will bring more experience to bear on the Oaks trail.

Libby Lloyd – Brilliance with a tribute name

Owner: Bret Jones
Trainer: Chad Brown
Pedigree: Into Mischief-Indian Pride, by Proud Citizen

Libby Lloyd’s name is a tip in itself. Bred by the estate of Kentucky Gov. Brereton C. Jones, and named in honor of his widow, the filly races for their son, Bret. The equine Libby Lloyd proved as special as her namesake in her unveiling at the Spa. Bet down to 1.22-1 favoritism, she sped to the lead and ran her rivals off their feet by 10 lengths in a swift 1:10.80 for six furlongs.

The obvious question is whether Libby Lloyd’s brilliance will translate to two turns. Her half-brother, Publisher, was runner-up in the 2025 Arkansas Derby (G1), but their mother, Grade 2-placed stakes winner Indian Pride, was a sprinter.

Rum Twist – Third time lucky

Owners: R. Lee Lewis and Lexi J. Lewis
Trainer: Mark Hennig
Two-year-old sale: $260,000 OBS March
Pedigree: Mandaloun-Rumandice, by Congrats

A troubled second on debut and a hampered fourth to Summer Starlet next time out, Rum Twist finally broke through in her third try at Saratoga. The daughter of 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) awardee Mandaloun probably appreciated the step up to seven furlongs as well. She stalked the pace and pulled 5 3/4 lengths clear.

Rum Twist’s half-brother, Salloom, was heavily favored in this year’s Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby, only to be scratched after breaking from the gate prematurely and running loose. Then he was terribly unfortunate to get off to a slow start in the UAE Derby (G2) and never factored. Hopefully, Rum Twist will have better luck when she tackles stakes company.

Del Mar graduates

Miss Monica – Undefeated Del Mar Debutante heroine

Owners: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Two-year-old sale: $850,000 OBS April
Pedigree: Early Voting-Lipstikliesnlovers, by American Pharoah

A perfect 2-for-2 so far, by a combined winning margin of 12 lengths, Miss Monica is the headliner for her first-crop sire, 2022 Preakness (G1) hero Early Voting. She’s also shown tactical versatility, wiring her first start but cruising from just off the pace in her Del Mar Debutante romp.

Although Miss Monica’s Brisnet Speed rating dipped slightly from a 102 on debut to a 98 in the Debutante, she was deliberately eased down late as much the best. Stablemate Holmby, who had won the Sorrento (G3), was a distant third.

Quattro Passi – Easy does it

Owner: Debbie Lanni
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Yearling sale: $190,000 Keeneland September
Pedigree: Girvin-Whatashame, by Blame

Runner-up to Holmby as the favorite in her five-furlong premiere, Quattro Passi came back to crush a six-furlong maiden at Del Mar by 9 1/4 lengths. She easily justified 11-10 favoritism over fellow Baffert pupil Prospect of Love, who stumbled out of the gate, took a lot of dirt on the rail, and angled out to finish second. Prospect of Love is sure to improve with maturity, but Quattro Passi is on the upswing herself.

Daytona Diamond – California-bred with a big kick

Owner/breeder: Williamson Racing
Trainer: Carla Gaines
Pedigree: Tonalist-Zap Dance, by Ghostzapper

If Daytona Diamond hasn’t run quite as fast as the Baffert duo, she’s done exceptionally well just to win both of her starts in sprints as a summer two-year-old. The daughter of 2014 Belmont (G1) victor Tonalist theoretically should have needed more time to come to hand, and more distance, so her unexpected precocity could be telling. Daytona Diamond stormed from well off the pace to overpower state-bred rivals in a 5 1/2-furlong dash, and she overcame a horrible start to get up as the 1-2 favorite in the Generous Portion S. The competition will get deeper if she ventures into open company on the Oaks trail, but Daytona Diamond is worth watching.

Mid-Atlantic maven

Emphatic – Unbeaten Sorority queen

Owners: Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Yearling sale: $260,000 Keeneland September
Pedigree: Nyquist-Convinced, by Tiznow

Although based at Churchill with Brendan Walsh, the Pennsylvania-bred has shipped to race closer to home. Emphatic is living up to her name so far with a pair of dominant performances. She demolished a six-furlong maiden at Colonial Downs as the 9-10 favorite, and stretching out to a mile in the Sorority S. at Monmouth Park, the 3-2 favorite was equally emphatic.

Emphatic was far more impressive than the colts in the Sapling S., the companion stakes at Monmouth, both visually and on the clock. In her Sorority romp, the daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist recorded a 96 Brisnet Late Pace rating.

Pocahontas contenders

Manuka Honey – Undefeated Ellis Park Debutante romper

Owners: Lisa Lee, Jason Sciortino, William Lynch, Brian Howe, and breeder Terry Hamilton
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Yearling sale: $19,000 RNA (not sold), Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October
Pedigree: Upstart-Drop Dead Red, by Hold Me Back

Manuka Honey has won her two starts by a total of more than 14 lengths, making her the 9-5 favorite in the Pocahontas. The big, rangy filly looks stronger the further she goes, uncorking a power-packed stride in her Churchill debut and in the Ellis Park Debutante S. Her physique hints at much more to come.

Scarlett Begonia – Better than her Adirondack third

Owners: Hat Creek Racing, Ashview Farm, and Upland Flats Racing
Trainer: Brad Cox
Two-year-old sale: $220,000 RNA (not sold) OBS March
Pedigree: Life Is Good-Asiya, by Daaher

A sharp debut winner over the talented Miss Anna in a 5 1/2-furlong dash at Ellis Park, Scarlett Begonia was only third in the Adirondack at Saratoga. But she didn’t have the most straightforward trip between horses that day, and her pedigree gives hope that she’s capable of further progress. Scarlett Begonia is a half-sister to Zaajel, who was on the 2021 Oaks trail for a time before ultimately winning the Mother Goose (G2). Their half-brother, Ajaaweed, also placed in a pair of 2019-20 Road to the Kentucky Derby points races.

One more for down the road

Effusive, the daughter of 2018 Kentucky Oaks champion Monomoy Girl, commanded attention with her debut victory at Saratoga. Trained by Brad Cox, like her mother, the Spendthrift Farm homebred was reportedly under consideration for the Spinaway. But she hasn’t had a published work since Aug. 15. We’re keeping her on the radar pending further news.

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