Road to Kentucky Oaks 2026 Report (3-28-26)

Two more Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep races are in the books and Counting Stars and Prom Queen were both impressive winners. In this report, I will recap the Fantasy Stakes and Gulfstream Park Oaks, update the points standings, and share my top five Oaks fillies.

I cover all of the Kentucky Oaks points race on my Runaway Horse YouTube channel, and through 28 points races, my top choices have 13 wins, 5 runner-up finishes, and 5 show finishes. The next Kentucky Oaks points race is the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on Friday, April 3. The Gazelle Stakes and Santa Anita Oaks are the final two Oaks points races on Saturday, April 4.

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps

Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn (3-27-26): Even money favorite Explora spiked a temperature and scratched, and that left a field of five. 41-1 longshot Empath set the pace as expected and her stablemate Counting Stars ($3.80) chased from second, took over, and cruised home by 5 1/2 lengths (92 BSF). Search Party rallied for the place and she was 9 1/2 lengths in front of clear show finisher Taken by the Wind. Sticker Shock was a disappointing fourth and Empath retreated to last. Francisco Arrieta rode the winner and Mark Casse saddled the winner and place finisher. Fractions: 24.07, 48.69, 1:13.68, 1:38.22, 1:44.47. 

Read more at The Runaway Horse