Study Guide: 2026 Kentucky Oaks

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.

Explora
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.

Zany
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 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
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 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
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 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 has been scratched from the Kentucky Oaks.

Always a Runner
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 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 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
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 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 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
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
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
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.