Tipsheet: 2026 Del Mar Oaks

An excellent and well-matched field of 10 sophomore fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles on the lawn at Del Mar in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1). 

Del Mar Oaks Picks

• Kensington Lane
• Green Carrera
• Raiding Party
• Tam Tam

Del Mar Oaks Wagers

• $15 win and place #9 Kensington Lane
• $12 exacta 9 with 4,10
• $.50-cent superfecta 9 with 3,4,10 with 3,4,10 with all

Del Mar Oaks Contenders

#1 VICTORIOUS DREAM: Michael McCarthy trainee has been consistent since arriving in the states and has posted a pair of nice wins in succession leading up to her Grade 1 bow. The Irish-bred filly made short work of allowance runners on the surface last time and could improve second off the layoff with leading pilot Juan Hernandez on board. 

#2 LOOKIN AT DIAMOND: Talented Lookin at Lucky filly was a late-running third in the Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita last time and comes in as a player in her local debut. The lightly raced bay has displayed a fine closing kick in three straight races to begin her career and will be arriving on the scene late beneath Julien Leparoux. 

#3 TAM TAM: Churchill import has been excellent since being moved to the sod for trainer Phil Bauer. The $975,000 yearling purchase decimated her foes in the Tepin S. in Louisville last time and will be tough with even minor improvement in the affair under regular pilot Junior Alvarado. 

#4 GREEN CARRERA: Joseph O’Brien pupil will make her first stateside run since importing to the states and has been first or second in all four outings in 2026. The bay filly by leading sire Lope de Vega should handle the distance with ease and will rally from off the swift pace with Umberto Rispoli in the silks. 

#5 DEFINE: First of two for Brendan Walsh aired in a maiden tally at Ellis Park in her first U. S. appearance and could be any kind going forward. Also by standout sire Lope de Vega, the sophomore faces a huge class rise but could be an exotics piece with Kimura inheriting the ride. 

#6 INBOX: Top local hope has improved her Brisnet Speed rating in each career run to date and had a fine recent prep on the Del Mar green when a rallying second in the San Clemente (G2) at one mile here. The bay daughter of Ectot has trained readily in advance of this and picks up fine turf rider Berrios for this endeavor. 

#7 PEANUTBUTTERBOMBE: Second of three for D’Amato was fourth in the recent San Clemente (G2) and might benefit most of all from the added distance in her nine-furlong debut. The Collected chestnut will be going second off the layoff since May and is eligible to improve beneath Antonio Fresu. 

#8 WILD LIKE THE WEST: Baltas charge showed little when facing a few of these in her latest showing and could be a surprise in the race. The Into Mischief filly will have Armando Ayuso taking the reins. 

#9 KENSINGTON LANE: Starspangledbanner filly ran her foes off of their respective feet in the Belmont Oaks (G1) last time and gets the nod to make it two-for-two in the states. Now in the D’Amato barn, the Irish-bred chestnut made an early move to take command in that heat and was never challenged thereafter, and I like her chances right back with Rosario retaining the mount. 

#10 RAIDING PARTY: Second for conditioner Walsh gets a tough post on the outside of the field, but she ran well with some trouble in the San Clemente last time and is a nice fit in the field with an expected forward move. The Sioux Nation chestnut has flashed potential in each of her four lifetime tries to date and will be in the hunt late under regular rider Ben Curtis.