Tipsheet: 2026 Kentucky Oaks

A deep and excellent group of three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles over the famed Churchill Downs main surface in Friday’s especially competitive $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1). 

Kentucky Oaks Picks

• #10 Prom Queen
• #2 Zany
• #11 Percy’s Bar
• #9 Always a Runner

Kentucky Oaks Wagers

• $25 win and place #10 Prom Queen
• $5 Exacta: key box 10 with 2,9,11
• $1 Trifecta: 2,10,11 with 2,9,10,11 with 2,4,9,10,11,12

Kentucky Oaks Contenders

#1 EXPLORA (6-1): Grade 2 vixen from the Baffert barn has been first or second in each of her seven lifetime runs to date, with six coming in the stakes ranks. The consistently very good daughter of Blame was very professional in her victory in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park most recently and comes in fresh with some nice morning moves to her credit as of late. The win threat will have Flavien Prat in the irons.  

#2 ZANY (4-1): Ultra-talented daughter of American Pharoah suffered a first career setback when second in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland in her latest venture, but the chestnut was clear while second in defeat in what might be an ideal prep for the Oaks. The Pletcher pupil ran her most commanding race to date at nine furlongs in her Demoiselle (G2) romp in December, and her best showing will have her right there late with Irad taking the reins.  

#3 SEARCH PARTY (30-1): Stakes winner from the Casse shedrow has been well behind stablemate Counting Stars in her last two assignments and will need a career-best run to upset this field at expected huge odds. The homebred daughter of Gun Runner will come from off the pace once again while retaining Christian Torres.

#4 COUNTING STARS (8-1): Fantasy (G2) romper has never been better for trainer Mark Casse and had a pair of ideal prep races in advance of this endeavor. The bay daughter of Honor A. P. will appreciate the move to 1 1/8 miles over a surface where she broke her maiden at first asking as a juvenile on Sept. 25. The $150,000 two-year-old purchase will have regular rider Francisco Arrieta in the irons. 

#5 MEANING (5-1): Once-beaten daughter of Gun Runner is two-for-two this season and looked the part in her facile Santa Anita Oaks (G2) triumph most recently. The Michael McCarthy-trained sophomore has gate speed as well as a nice turn of foot, and the bay could peak while making her third run off the layoff, too. Juan Hernandez has the assignment atop the talented miss. 

#6 MY MISS MO (20-1): Speedy sort from the barn of Saffie Joseph led to the turn for home and held well late to be a smart second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in her first two-turn affair. The Florida-bred daughter of Uncle Mo has been working in swift fashion leading up to the race and will be forwardly placed from the break beneath Micah Husbands. 

#7 DAZZLING DAME (30-1): Three-time stakes heroine was a clear second in the recent Virginia Oaks in her latest run and will bring pace to the field for standout conditioner Brittany Russell. The Girvin filly will need a big step forward to take down a field of this caliber, but the filly is training swiftly as of late and will be forcing the action from the break in this heat with Luis Saez picking up the mount. 

#9 ALWAYS A RUNNER (10-1): Chad Brown trainee is two-for-two in her career and was a strong late-running winner of the Gazelle (G3) at this distance in her latest performance. The seven-figure yearling purchase has room for improvement with just a pair of starts to her credit, and the daughter of Gun Runner will be rallying with good energy in the stretch in her local bow with Jose Ortiz on board.

#10 PROM QUEEN (8-1): Top choice in the well-matched field has improved her Brisnet Speed rating with each lifetime run to date and comes off a stylish tally in the Gulfstream Park Oaks for Brad Cox. The Gary and Mary West homebred has trained in strong fashion at this locale in advance of the big event and will be seen stalking the pace from the opening bell on Friday. Javier Castellano will guide the leading selection. 

#11 PERCY’S BAR (6-1): Upstart filly was visually impressive when quickly spurting away from her foes in the Ashland at Keeneland in her 2026 unveiling. The Ben Colebrook charge has been working in fine fashion all season and is also a stakes winner from her lone prior run at Churchill, too. Regular pilot Luan Machado will pilot the versatile win contender.

#12 BELLA BALLERINA (10-1): Two-time Grade 2 victress bagged the Golden Rod (G2) beneath the Twin Spires in her juvenile finale and seems all set for her local return for Brendan Walsh. The Street Sense lass is a half-sister to an Oaks heroine (Pretty Mischievous) and has to be considered a major player in the affair with Tyler Gaffalione in the stirrups.

#13 PASHMINA (30-1): Interesting longshot exotics contender was well clear of her foes in second in the Gazelle at Aqueduct last time and continues to show improvement for trainer Rob Atras. The daughter of Constitution has a versatile running style and could be in a good spot at the top of the lane to receive a minor award at a healthy number with Ramon Vazquez signed on. 

#14 BROOKLYN BLONDE (30-1): Gun Runner sophomore has improved her Brisnet Speed rating with every run to date and comes off a nice try when a clear second in the Santa Anita Oaks in her stakes debut last time out. The Michael McCarthy trainee received an impossible post for her second run with winners, but she is improving and also has the gate presence to avoid being left behind in the affair. Kaz Kimura will be on board. 

#15 LOVELY GREY (30-1): Vekoma filly was a close second in the Bourbonette Oaks in her latest venture and will make just her second run on the dirt in the Oaks. The Kentucky-bred gray has good current form and has moved forward since getting more ground to work with for conditioner Kelsey Danner. Dylan Davis is named to guide the ascending three-year-old lass who has exotics intrigue. 

#16 NYCON (Also-Eligible) (50-1): Nyquist filly was outrun in the Gazelle last time out and would be a big surprise on this occasion. The well-bred Beckman trainee has flashed potential in advance of this, but the sophomore will need a major step forward to be in the mix late against this cast under Jaime Torres. 

#17 RESIST (Also-Eligible) (30-1): Tom Drury trainee has never run on the dirt and will have to negotiate a good trip while widest of all in the group if she draws into the field. The Maclean’s Music three-year-old is talented for sure, but this is an ambitious placement with Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the irons.