(The Draw for the G1 Kentucky Oaks was held on Saturday at Churchill Downs / Photos by Coady Media)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team / Darren Rogers:

ZANY LUKEWARM 4-1 MORNING LINE FAVORITE FOR 152ND LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS

 

LOUISVILLE, KY (Thursday, April 23, 2026) – Repole Stable’s Zany has been installed as the 4-1 morning line favorite in a field of 14 plus three also-eligibles for the 152nd running of the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) to be run next Friday over a mile and an eighth over the main track.

Post time for the Oaks is 8:40 p.m. (all times Eastern) as the centerpiece of a 13-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m.

Trained by four-time Oaks winner Todd Pletcher, Zany started her career 3-for-3 and sustained her first setback three weeks ago in the Ashland (GI) at Keeneland with a runner-up finish to Percy’s Bar.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who was board for the Ashland as well as victories in the Demoiselle (GII) and Suncoast (Listed), has the mount Friday from post 2.

Pletcher’s Oaks winners consist of Malathaat (2021), Princess of Sylmar (2013), Rags to Riches (2007) and Ashado (2004).

Second choice on the morning line at 5-1 is Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Meaning.

Winner of the Santa Anita (GII) in her most recent start, Meaning has won three of four starts for trainer Michael McCarthy. Juan Hernandez has the mount from post 5.

Hat Creek Racing’s Percy’s Bar and Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Explora are the co-third choices on the morning line at 6-1.

One of two Grade I winners in the field, Percy’s Bar was first to the finish in last fall’s Alcibiades (GI) at Keeneland but was disqualified for interference in the stretch. She followed that effort with a troubled third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).

Luan Machado has the mount from post 11.

Trained by three-time Oaks winner Bob Baffert, Explora won the Honeybee (GIII) in her most recent start to improve her record to 7-4-3-0. Explora has been favored in all seven of her starts. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 1.

Bob Baffert also will send out Bottle of Rouge (20-1) for his wife Jill.

Bottle of Rouge, winner of the Del Mar Debutante (GI) last summer and the recent Virginia Oaks, will be ridden by two-time Oaks winner Mike Smith from post 8. Smith won aboard Abel Tasman in 2017 and Princess of Sylmar.

Baffert’s most recent Oaks winner was Abel Tasman. Previous winners were Plum Pretty in 2011 and the Pegram-owned Silverbulletday in 1999.

In addition to Pletcher and Baffert, two other trainers will be attempting to add to their Oaks victory total.

Three-time winner Brad Cox, who won the 2025 running with Good Cheer, will try to go back to back with Gary and Mary West’s Prom Queen (8-1). Daylight winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks, Prom Queen has won two of three starts and will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post 10.

The most recent trainer to win the Oaks in consecutive years was D. Wayne Lukas with Open Mind (1989) and Seaside Attraction(1990). Cox’s other winners were Shedaresthedevil in 2020 and Monomoy Girl in 2018 while Castellano won the 2016 running withCathryn Sophia.

Brendan Walsh will go for a second Oaks victory with Bella Ballerina (10-1).

A half-sister to 2023 Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous and winner of three of four starts, Bella Ballerina won the Golden Rod (GII) here last fall and most recently was second in the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII).

Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Pretty Mischievous to the Oaks victory, has the call on Bella Ballerina who will exit post 12.

Two other riders will be seeking additional Oaks victories.

Two-time winner Luis Saez (Good Cheer and Secret Oath in 2022) has the call on Respect the Valleys, Medallion Racing and Madaket Stables’ Dazzling Dame (30-1) for trainer Brittany Russell. She will exit post 7.

Jose Ortiz, who won the 2019 Oaks on Serengeti Empress, has the mount on Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm’s Always a Runner (10-1) for trainer Chad Brown. She will exit post 9.

The field for the Longines Kentucky Oaks from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

  • Explora (Flavien Prat, Bob Baffert, 6-1)
  • Zany (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher, 4-1)
  • Search Party (Cristian Torres, Mark Casse, 30-1)
  • Counting Stars (Francisco Arrieta, Mark Casse, 8-1)
  • Meaning (Juan Hernandez, Michael McCarthy, 5-1)
  • My Miss Mo (Micah Husbands, Saffie Joseph Jr., 20-1)
  • Dazzling Dame (Luis Saez, Brittany Russell, 30-1)
  • Bottle of Rouge (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 20-1)
  • Always a Runner (Jose Ortiz, Chad Brown, 10-1)
  • Prom Queen (Javier Castellano, Brad Cox, 8-1)
  • Percy’s Bar (Luan Machado, Ben Colebrook, 10-1)
  • Pashmina (Ramon Vazquez, Rob Atras, 30-1)
  • Brooklyn Blonde (Kazushi Kimura, Michael McCarthy, 30-1)
  • AE: Lovely Grey (Dylan Davis, Kelsey Danner, 30-1)
  • AE: Nycon (Jaime Torres, Whit Beckman, 50-1)
  • AE: Resist (Brian Hernandez Jr., Tommy Drury Jr., 50-1)

         

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Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”), the world’s most legendary racetrack, has been the home of The Kentucky Derby, the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Located in Louisville, CDRT features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the Spring, September, and the Fall. CDRT is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track, a stabling area, and provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests. The saddling paddock and the stable area has barns sufficient to accommodate 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel. CDRT also has a year-round simulcast wagering facility. www.ChurchillDowns.com.