Manuka Honey remains unbeaten with two-length Pocahontas win

Sep 12, 2026 Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs Racetrack

Manuka Honey rallied to take the Pocahontas (G3), the opener on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (Photo by Coady Media)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026) – Manuka Honey, seven-length winner of the $250,000 Ellis Park Debutante in her previous start, settled early and laid it down late to surge past Scarlett Begonia and Miss Anna by two lengths in Saturday’s 58th running of the $297,750 Pocahontas (Grade III) for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.

Manuka Honey ran one mile over a fast track in 1:36.90 to remain unbeaten for jockey Luis Saez, trainer Brian Lynch and owners Lisa Lee, Jason Sciortino, William Lynch, Brian Howe and Terry Hamilton.

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Upstart out of the Hold Me Back mare Drop Dead Red, Manuka Honey banked $181,710 for the win and is the early points-leader on the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” after collecting 10 points. The Pocahontas was the first of 33 qualifying races to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) to be run April 30, 2027, and points were awarded to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.

Breaking from post No. 2 in the field of seven 2-year-old fillies, Manuka Honey relaxed in fourth and spotted early leaders Pierette, Scarlett Begonia and Miss Anna about three lengths down the backstretch through fractions of :23.03 and :45.70.

As Pierette gave way around the turn, Manuka Honey tipped out to close within reach of Scarlett Begonia and Miss Anna. Still 1 1/2 lengths behind in upper stretch, it wasn’t until the final 100 yards that Manuka Honey rushed past the twosome for her third straight win.

Sweet as honey. Tough as nails. 🍯🐝

𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗨𝗞𝗔 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 needed every ounce of @luissaezpty's power to earn the first points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks @ChurchillDowns. @BLynchRacing takes the G3 Pocahontas S.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/81FtR5XopN

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 12, 2026

Manuka Honey (3-3-0-0—$383,981) paid $3.92, $2.48 and $2.10 as the 4-5 betting favorite. Scarlett Begonia won the photo for second under Flavien Prat at 3-1 and returned $3.34 and $2.54. Miss Anna, with Tyler Gaffalione up, was another head back in third and paid $2.94 to show at 5-1.

Stripe Show, Betty Sue, For the Win and Pierette completed the order of finish. Sweet Kathleen and Tahaluf were scratched.

Manuka Honey was bred by her co-owner Terry Hamilton.

Pocahontas quotes

Manuka Honey, jockey, Luis Saez, winner: “I’m really proud of her. She had to really fight to get by the leaders and she kept finding more for me late.”

Brian Lynch, trainer, Manuka Honey, winner: “She really had to work for it today. There was some stage there where I thought she had a task ahead of her. This filly just lays it down each time. We’re excited to see her stretch out a little bit more and get her to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Brad Cox trainer, Scarlett Begonia, runner-up: “She ran well. It was a pretty contested pace up front, and we’re proud she was able to hang around to grab second.”