Study Guide: 2026 Kentucky Oaks

Apr 28, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Bella Ballerina wins the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

A maximum of 14 three-year-old fillies will race 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs in Friday’s $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1), which will be broadcast in primetime on NBC for the first time in its 152-year history.

A total of 17 horses entered the Kentucky Oaks, with three on the also-eligible list. Let’s meet the contenders:

Explora

Expora wins the Santa Ynez at Santa Anita.(Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Breeder: Mesingw Farm
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning a maiden special weight at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $1,053,000

Sire: Blame
Dam: Collections Choice
Color: Dark bay/brown

Explora hasn’t raced since March 1, when she defeated Counting Stars in the Honeybee (G3). But fast workouts in recent weeks suggest this three-time stakes winner is ready to bring her A game to the Kentucky Oaks.

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Zany

Zany wins the Demoiselle at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: DJ Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $369,625

Sire: American Pharoah
Dam: Mo’ Green
Color: Chestnut

Zany won her first three starts in decisive fashion, including the Demoiselle by 8 1/2 lengths. She suffered her first defeat when second to Percy’s Bar in the Ashland (G1), but Zany was compromised by a slow pace and may rebound with a better setup in the Kentucky Oaks.

Search Party

Search Party wins the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media/Renee Torbit)

Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: Tracy Farmer
Breeder: Tracy Farmer
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Cristian Torres

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $516,711

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Devious Charm
Color: Bay

Search Party won the Martha Washington S. during the winter and subsequently recorded top-four finishes in the Honeybee and Fantasy (G2). But she’ll need to improve to turn the tables on rivals like Explora and Counting Stars.

Counting Stars

Counting Stars wins the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 4
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds
Breeder: HRH Prince Sultan Bin Michal Al Saud
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $972,606

Sire: Honor A. P.
Dam: Paynterbynumbers
Color: Bay

After finishing a close second to Explora in the Honeybee, Counting Stars trounced the Fantasy by 5 1/2 lengths, earning a sharp 94 Brisnet Speed rating. Counting Stars is progressing in the right direction and warrants respect in the Kentucky Oaks.

Meaning

Meaning wins the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
Breeder: Stonehaven Steadings
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $307,000

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Figure of Speech
Color: Bay

Meaning is 2-for-2 this year, defeating Explora in the Las Virgenes S. and Brooklyn Blonde in the Santa Anita Oaks. The Kentucky Oaks marks her first start outside of California, but Meaning’s triumph over Explora suggests she’s a logical contender even while shipping across the country to Churchill Downs.

My Miss Mo

My Miss Mo wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Averill Racing, Mathis Stable, Tristan De Meric, and BAG Racing Stables
Breeder: Valerie Mastromonaco, Tristan De Meric, and Uncle Mo Syndicate
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Micah Husbands

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $148,030

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: In a Dream
Color: Bay

Setting a modest pace helped My Miss Mo finish second against Prom Queen in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. She earned a respectable 92 Brisnet Speed rating, but may face a more challenging pace scenario in the Kentucky Oaks.

Dazzling Dame

Dazzling Dame wins the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 4
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Respect the Valleys, Medallion Racing, and Madaket Stables
Breeder: Maria M. Haire
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Busanda S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $290,525

Sire: Girvin
Dam: Awesome Dama
Color: Bay

Dazzling Dame has lots of early speed, which she’s used to win three stakes, including the Busanda S. by 11 1/2 lengths. But in her lone start at the graded stakes level, Dazzling Dame finished a distant fourth in the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs. Facing even tougher competition at Churchill in the Kentucky Oaks could be a tricky assignment.

Bottle of Rouge (SCRATCHED)

Bottle of Rouge wins the Del Mar Debutante at Del Mar. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 4
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Natalie J. Baffert
Breeder: Kathie Maybee
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Sunland Park Oaks at Sunland Park.
Total Earnings: $577,000

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Blues Corner
Color: Gray/roan

Bottle of Rouge has been scratched from the Kentucky Oaks.

Always a Runner

Always a Runner wins the Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farms
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $129,200

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Always Carina
Color: Dark bay/brown

Always a Runner is unbeaten in two starts. Last time out, she launched a determined rally to win the Gazelle with a 95 Brisnet Speed rating, one of the highest numbers in the Kentucky Oaks field. Always a Runner has upside for further improvement and has to be ranked as a serious win threat at Churchill Downs.

Prom Queen

Prom Queen wins the Gulfstream Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Gary and Mary West
Breeder: Gary and Mary West Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $206,980

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Miss Bling Bling
Color: Bay

Prom Queen was clearly best in the Gulfstream Park Oaks, conquering My Miss Mo by 2 3/4 lengths with a 95 Brisnet Speed rating. She’s improving by leaps and bounds for three-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Brad Cox and is yet another viable win contender at Churchill Downs.

Percy’s Bar

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

Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Hat Creek Racing
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Ben Colebrook
Jockey: Luan Machado

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $1,015,121

Sire: Upstart
Dam: Honestly Deb
Color: Bay

Percy’s Bar has recorded top-three finishes in four straight Grade 1 races. Last time out, she tracked a slow pace on her way to winning the Ashland (G1) by 2 1/4 lengths over Zany. A combination of tactical speed and homestretch resilience makes Percy’s Bar a major player in the Kentucky Oaks.

Bella Ballerina

Bella Ballerina wins the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $561,525

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Pretty City Dancer
Color: Bay

A half-sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, Bella Ballerina won the Golden Rod at Churchill Downs last fall, and this year she’s finished first in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and second in the Fair Grounds Oaks, two pivotal Kentucky Oaks prep races. She raced a bit too aggressively in the Fair Grounds Oaks and will thus run without blinkers for the first time in the Kentucky Oaks, which could potentially help her relax and produce a career-best performance. Don’t count her out of win contention.

Pashmina

Pashmina working at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media/Renee Torbit)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Red, White, and Blue Racing
Breeder: Narola
Trainer: Rob Atras
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in the Gazelle at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $116,911

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Panthera Onca
Color: Bay

Pashmina set the pace in the Gazelle before weakening in the final furlong to finish second against Always a Runner. She’ll need a step forward to turn the tables.

Brooklyn Blonde

Brooklyn Blonde working at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media/Renee Torbit)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Sun-Kissed Stables and Bobby Flay
Breeder: Benson Farm
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the Santa Anita Oaks at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $96,500

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Shenandoah Queen
Color: Chestnut

Brooklyn Blonde couldn’t quite keep pace with Meaning in the Santa Anita Oaks, settling for second place by two lengths. Her career-best 90 Brisnet Speed rating looks a bit light compared to some of the other Kentucky Oaks entrants.

Lovely Grey

Lovely Grey galloping at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media/Renee Torbit)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Go Go Greys Stable
Breeder: Joann Adams and Katy Lee
Trainer: Kelsey Danner
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $148,668

Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Knightwithputnam
Color: Gray/roan

First also-eligible entrant Lovely Grey will get to compete thanks to the scratch of Bottle of Rouge. She comes in off a close runner-up finish in the Bourbonette Oaks over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park, and her pedigree suggests she may improve while switching to dirt.

Nycon

Nycon galloping at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media/Renee Torbit)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Icon Racing Stable
Breeder: Pursuit of Success
Trainer: Whit Beckman
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing second in the Busher S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $156,018

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Raise the Flag
Color: Dark bay/brown

The second also-eligible entrant, Nycon, will need another scratch in order to compete. If she does draw in, she’ll hope to improve off her fourth-place finish against Always a Runner and Pashmina in the Gazelle.

Resist

Resist trains for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs (Photo by Horsephotos.com/Rickelle Nelson)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Military Pike Racing Stables
Breeder: Military Pike Racing Stables
Trainer: Thomas Drury Jr.
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing third in the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $165,066

Sire: Maclean’s Music
Dam: Bahama Babe
Color: Dark bay/brown

The third and final also-eligible entrant is Resist. She finished behind Lovely Grey when third in the Bourbonette Oaks and Cincinnati Trophy S. and will need a step forward to reverse those outcomes.