Kentucky Oaks Roundup: Road to the Oaks concludes

The 2026 Kentucky Oaks (G1), which will be broadcast in primetime for the first time, is 21 days away. Last weekend, the Ashland (G1), the Gazelle (G3), and the Santa Anita Oaks (G2)—all 100-point races—wrapped up the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, and the leaderboard is set.

Percy's Bar serves up sentimental victory

Percy’s Bar stalked the pace in the Ashland at Keeneland and assumed command in the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths, pulling a slight upset over favorite Zany. 

In her previous start, Percy’s Bar was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). She has a Churchill Downs victory—a 5-length win in the Debutante S.—on her resume. 

Percy’s Bar is named for a second-floor bar at Keeneland, which had long been manned by the late Percy Pool, who retired in 2015 after more than four decades working at Kentucky tracks.

She is trained by Ben Colebrook. He has saddled one Kentucky Derby starter, Raise Cain, who ran eighth in 2023. Percy’s Bar will be his first Oaks entry. 

Prior to the Ashland, Zany had three decisive daylight scores from three starts, including the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct and the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Trainer Todd Pletcher said she is still pointed to the Oaks. Zany is a daughter of the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, owned by Repole Stable. 

Always a Runner handles jump in class with ease

Always a Runner rallied in the upper stretch to win the Gazelle at Aqueduct by 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Pashmina. Morning line favorite Paradise, trained by Brad Cox, was 8 3/4 behind her. 

Always a Runner missed fall racing due to pneumonia. She had raced once prior to the Gazelle, a 6 1/2 length win in a maiden race at Tampa Bay Downs. A pair of strong works caused trainer Chad Brown to believe she was ready for the jump up in class. She is by 2017 Horse of the Year, Gun Runner. 

Jockey Dylan Davis returned to racing last month after a serious accident at Aqueduct in November. He sustained fractured ribs, a collapsed left lung, a broken right collarbone, and a hairline fracture in his right arm.

This was the final edition of the race held at Aqueduct, which will close on June 28.

McCarthy Dominates Santa Anita Oaks

Trainer Michael McCarthy scored the exacta in the Santa Anita Oaks with Meaning and Brooklyn Blonde. Morning line favorite Meaning was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and went on to win Santa Anita’s Las Virgenes S. She was two lengths ahead of 10-1 stablemate Brooklyn Blonde, who was making her stakes debut. The pair, who were both sired by Gun Runner, were 13 3/4 clear of the rest of the field, which included two horses trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.  

Meaning and Brooklyn Blonde are both headed to Churchill Downs. 

Road to the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard Top Five

1. Meaning (126 points)
2. Life of Joy (122 points)
3. Percy’s Bar (114 points)
4. Bella Ballerina (110 points)
5. Counting Stars (100 points)