Percy’s Bar rides rail, beats Zany in Ashland

Apr 03, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Percy's Bar wins the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

The last time Percy’s Bar ran at Keeneland, she crossed the wire first in the Oct. 3 Alcibiades (G1), only to be demoted to second for interference. In Friday’s $750,000 Ashland (G1) over the same track and 1 1/16-mile trip, the Hat Creek Racing runner again spurted away. But this time there was no controversy, and Percy’s Bar gained a deserved Grade 1 victory to propel herself into the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

On both occasions, Percy’s Bar was upstaging an odds-on favorite. In last fall’s Alcibiades, she beat Tommy Jo on the racetrack, but lost the race via disqualification in the stewards’ room.

In the Ashland, Zany was heavily favored at 3-5, with fans forecasting another win for the unbeaten daughter of American Pharoah. Percy’s Bar ranked as her main opponent, going off as the 5-2 second choice.

Zany might have had a recency advantage over Percy’s Bar, who had not raced since her third in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Yet Percy’s Bar was on her home court of Keeneland, and the dynamics of the Ashland likely played to her strengths.

Trained by Ben Colebrook and ridden by Luan Machado, Percy’s Bar broke alertly from her inside post and tucked in a ground-saving spot just behind the pace. In contrast, Zany was off a beat slow, and as a result, she ended up covering extra ground to improve position as the race unfolded.

Meanwhile, pacesetter French Friction was carving out very slow fractions of :24.70, :50.37, and 1:15.24. Rounding the far turn, she left the door open for Percy’s Bar to dart through on the rail.

Percy’s Bar took full advantage to cut the corner into the stretch. The daughter of Upstart quickened away before Zany could get into gear wider out.

An impressive performance by PERCY'S BAR in the @centralbankKY Ashland (G1)! Watch the full replay → pic.twitter.com/UBhtQaqVKm

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 3, 2026

By clocking 1:45.72, Percy’s Bar earned 100 points toward the Kentucky Oaks. Her total of 114 points puts her second on the leaderboard.

Zany added 50 to her ledger, for a total of 80. Third-placer Star Actress, a full sister to champion and 2024 Oaks runner-up Just F Y I, banked 25 points in her stakes debut. Next came French Friction in fourth (15 points), Omaha Bay (10 points for a total of 20), and Hollybygolly. Nycon was scratched in favor of Saturday’s Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct.

Percy’s Bar sports a mark of 6-3-2-1, including a sparkling debut victory at Keeneland last spring and a romp in the Debutante S. at Churchill Downs. The bay was also second to Tommy Jo in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga before their clash in the Alcibiades.

Bred by the late Brereton Jones, Percy’s Bar was sold for $52,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September. She is out of Honestly Deb, a mare by 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) star Super Saver.