Kentucky Oaks Roundup: Road to the Oaks concludes this week with three 100-point preps

The 2026 Kentucky Oaks (G1), which will be broadcast in prime time for the first time, is 29 days away. Here’s a look at the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues:

Casse crushes the Fantasy

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse dominated Oaklawn Park’s Fantasy (G2), saddling the exacta of Counting Stars and Search Party. The winner was 5 1/2 lengths clear of her stablemate, who finished 9 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Taken by the Wind. A Triple Crown nominee, Counting Stars was exiting a three-quarters of a length runner-up finish to Explora in the Honeybee (G3). Explora was scratched from the Fantasy because of a fever, and trainer Bob Baffert said she will train up to the Oaks. The $1 million Fantasy was the country’s richest Kentucky Oaks prep race this year.

Prom Queen prances to Gulfstream Park Oaks victory

Prom Queen aced her class test at Gulfstream Park, prancing to a 2 3/4-length victory in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). She entered Saturday with just two starts—a runner-up debut followed by an 8-length maiden win—and the victory moved her into a tie for third on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard. Prom Queen is a daughter of 2009 Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) winner Quality Road. She is trained by Brad Cox, who is a three-time winner of the Kentucky Oaks, most recently last year with Good Cheer. Five races after the Gulfstream Park Oaks, he won the Florida Derby (G1) with Commandment.

Three 100-point races conclude the series

The starting gate picture will come into focus after this weekend, when the final three races on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks are in the books. Friday, Keeneland hosts the Ashland (G1). Saturday, Aqueduct presents the Gazelle (G3), and the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita concludes the series. 

Ashland favorite Zany previously earned Oaks points with victories in the Demoiselle (G2) and the Suncoast S. by a combined 11 1/4 lengths. She is trained by Todd Pletcher, owned by Repole Stable, and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who was in the irons for her two stakes wins. Percy’s Bar is the second choice on the morning line. She has not raced since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), but she has posted strong workouts for trainer Ben Colebrook.

Cox will attempt to solidify another spot in the Oaks with Gazelle entry Paradise. She was a decisive winner of the one-mile Busher S. on the Aqueduct oval, and she rematches with second-place finisher Nycon. Paradise is a daughter of the 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner.

Before she won the Las Virgenes S., Meaning finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The Santa Anita Oaks favorite needs to finish strong to ensure she is off the leaderboard bubble. Forced Entry, who earned qualifying points as the Santa Ysabel (G3) winner, will challenge for Baffert.

Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard top five

1. Life of Joy (122 points)
2. Bella Ballerina (110 points)
3. Counting Stars (100 points)
4. Prom Queen (100 points)
5. Explora (95 points)