Virginia Oaks

Colonial Downs • New Kent, VA, USA 50-25-15-10-5
March 14, 2026

Coming off a year where he saddled both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks winner, trainer Kenny McPeek entered Render Judgment in the Virginia Derby. Earning 4 qualifying points as a juvenile with a third in the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds and a fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, Render Judgment was not able to add to his total in his lone start as a sophomore, where he ran eighth in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Bred in Virginia, Omaha Omaha will ship in from Laurel for his first start in his home state. Trained by Michael Gorham, he has racked up 11 Derby points by running third in the Withers S. and second in the Jerome S., both at Aqueduct.

Other contenders include American Promise, who grabbed five points for D. Wayne Lukas last out in the Risen Star, and Authentic Gallop, who exits a blinkers-off allowance victory at Oaklawn Park for trainer Tom Amoss.

Exiting a second-place finish in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds, Gowells Delight was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Virginia Oaks.

Debuting at two turns in December at Fair Grounds, Gowells Delight beat seven rivals by 5 1/2 lengths. Trainer Kenny McPeek threw the daughter of Practical Joke into deep waters for her encore, where she ran a troubled fourth in the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park. After showing a new dimension when setting the pace in last month's Rachel Alexandra, Gowells Delight proved no match for the undefeated Good Cheer, but with her runner-up finish, 6 1/2 lengths behind the winner, she boosted her Oaks qualifying points to 16.5.

Drawing to the immediate outside of her stablemate, two-time winner Anonima ships in off her first stakes try, when she ran sixth to Quietside in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn.

Though she's only started once, Fondly won her debut in style on Valentine's Day at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Graham Motion. Demonstrating her push-button potential when overcoming two spots of trouble, the Upstart filly won going away and earned an 84 Brisnet Speed figure. Fondly was tabbed as the 7-2 second choice in the line and will break from the far outside post under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Sent off as the favorite last out in the Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park, Girl Math only managed to run fifth across the Tapeta surface where she broke her maiden Jan. 2 in the start prior. With three second-place finishes on main track at Churchill Downs on her resume, the Rodolphe Brisset trainee will return to the dirt for the Virginia Oaks.

Looking the part in her first try going two turns, Early On exits a 5 1/4-length maiden score at Gulfstream Park for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

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Road to the Kentucky Oaks

Golden Rod

November 29, 2025

Churchill Downs • Louisville, KY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Starlet

December 6, 2025

Los Alamitos • Cypress, CA, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Demoiselle

December 6, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Untapable

December 20, 2025

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Busanda

January 3, 2026

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Santa Ynez

January 4, 2026

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday

January 17, 2026

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Forward Gal

January 31, 2026

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Martha Washington

January 31, 2026

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Las Virgenes

February 1, 2026

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Suncoast

February 7, 2026

Tampa Bay Downs • Tampa, FL, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Rachel Alexandra

February 14, 2026

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Sunland Park Oaks

February 15, 2026

Sunland Park • Sunland Park, NM, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Cincinnati Trophy

February 20, 2026

Turfway Park • Florence, KY

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

UAE Oaks

February 21, 2026

Meydan Racecourse • Dubai, UAE

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Busher

February 28, 2026

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Davona Dale

February 28, 2026

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Santa Ysabel

March 1, 2026

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Honeybee

March 1, 2026

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Virginia Oaks

March 14, 2026

Colonial Downs • New Kent, VA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Bourbonette Oaks

March 21, 2026

Turfway Park • Florence, KY

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks

March 21, 2026

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Fantasy

March 27, 2026

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Gulfstream Park Oaks

March 28, 2026

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Ashland

April 3, 2026

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Santa Anita Oaks

April 4, 2026

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Gazelle

April 4, 2026

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

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