Kentucky Oaks Roundup: Explora returns to top form; Super Corredora vies to do the same

The 2026 Kentucky Oaks, which will be broadcast in prime time for the first time, is 57 days away. Here’s a look at the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues:

She Be Smooth Glides to 6-length victory

She Be Smooth aced her leap up in class. Prior to Saturday, the chestnut filly had one start on her resume: a 2 1/4-length win in a maiden race. At 6-1 odds, she went from last to first in the Davona Dale (G2) to win by six lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. My Miss Mo, a 27-1 longshot, was second, and On Time Girl, winner of Gulfstream’s first Oaks prep, was third. 

Two-time reigning Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat piloted She Be Smooth. She is a homebred for Calumet Farms. 

Explora returns to the top of the leaderboard

Explora secured her place among the sophomore class elite with a buzzy win in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn. She edged Counting Stars by three-quarters of a length to lock in 50 more qualifying points and push her career earnings to over $1 million. It was the Bob Baffert trainee’s first start outside of California. 

After winning the Davona Dale on Saturday in Florida, Prat flew to Arkansas and collected more Oaks points on Sunday as Explora’s jockey. 

Explora’s Road to the Oaks began in 2025 with a win in the Oak Leaf (G2) at Santa Anita and a three-quarters second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She is the daughter of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame.  

Super Corredora looks to rebound in Santa Ysabel (G2)

Super Corredora, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) gate-to-wire victress and last year’s champion two-year-old filly, looks to bounce back in the Santa Ysabel (G3) after a disappointing seasonal debut, a fourth-place finish in the Las Virgenes S. The daughter of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner posted a sharp five-furlong work in 59.60 on Sunday. She is trained by John Sadler. 

Baffert hopes to strengthen his roster of Oaks contenders with Forced Entry and French Blue, who are making their stakes debuts. In her last out, which was her second start, Forced Entry won a one-mile contest at Santa Anita by 7 1/4 lengths. Her three co-owners—Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman—are also partners in Explora. French Blue is another daughter of Gun Runner. She makes her second start after winning her career debut, a 6-furlong maiden race. 

Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard top five

1. Explora (95 points)
2. Bella Ballerina (60 points)
3. Labwah (50 points)
4. She Be Smooth (50 points)
5. Luv Your Neighbor (40 points)