Kentucky Oaks Roundup: Thrilling three-prep weekend ahead

The 2026 Kentucky Oaks (G1), which will be broadcast in primetime for the first time, is 85 days away. Here’s a look at the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues: 

On Time Girl proves she is a contender to watch

On Time Girl jumped to fifth on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with a three-length score in the Forward Gal (G3) last Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The even-money favorite drifted wide in the stretch but still won with ease, suggesting she could be even more formidable with added experience. Trained by Brad Cox, she improved her overall record to four wins and one second from five starts. Cox has won the Oaks three times: with Monomoy Girl in 2018, Shedaresthedevil in 2020, and Good Magic in 2025.

On Time Girl bested Imperatrice, who picked up 10 qualifying points, while Sneaky Good, also from Cox’s barn, finished a neck behind Imperatrice for third.

The action heats up this weekend

Three Oaks preps offer 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points to the top five finishers: Friday’s Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park, Saturday’s Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs, and Sunday’s Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita. 

Hit Parade and Counting Stars headline Martha Washington Stakes

Cox aims to deepen his bench of Kentucky Oaks contenders as he saddles the favorite Hit Parade in the Martha Washington. Last seen capturing the Untapable S. at Aqueduct in her final start as a two-year-old, Hit Parade enters looking to extend her winning streak to four. She is the daughter of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. 

Counting Stars is hot off two two-year-old stakes wins—by a combined 10 lengths— on the Oaklawn oval. She is one of two entries for the dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse. The other is Search Party, who broke her maiden at Oaklawn by six lengths in her last out. 

Originally scheduled for last Saturday, the Martha Washington was moved to Friday due to winter weather, alongside the Southwest (G3), a Kentucky Derby prep.

Will the Suncoast Stakes be Zany?

Zany, who romped by 8 1/2 lengths in the Demoiselle (G2), vies to remain undefeated in her third career start. The daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is trained by Todd Pletcher, owned by Repole Stables, and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. 

Cox takes a shot with Life of Joy, winner of the Rags to Riches S. at Churchill, who followed that effort with a fourth-place finish in the Golden Rod (G2).

Las Vigenes Stakes serves Breeders' Cup Juvenile rematch

Super Corredora and Explora, the one-two finishers in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), clash for a second time Sunday in the Las Virgenes Santa Anita. While Explora was victorious in her follow-up race, the Santa Ynez S., Corredora makes her first start since wearing the winner’s yellow and purple flower garland. The two currently sit in the top two places on the Oaks Leaderboard. Bob Baffert trains Explora, and John Sadler trains Super Corredora. 

Top 5 on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard 

1. Explora (35 points)

• TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: Explora

2. Super Corredora (30 points)

• TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: Super Corredora

3. Taken by the Wind (30 points)

• TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: Taken by the Wind

4. Dazzling Dame (22 points)

• TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: Dazzling Dame

5. On Time Girl (20 points)

• TwinSpires Horse Racing Profile: On Time Girl