Santa Ysabel Stakes 2026 Analysis & Picks (3-8-26)

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues on Sunday at Santa Anita Park with the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes. This $100,000 event for three-year-old fillies covers one mile and one-sixteenth on the main track and serves as an important Kentucky Oaks qualifying race.

For this race, I’m using data from the Complete Digest, which provides the performance metrics and projections used throughout this analysis.

Let’s break down the field, evaluate the pace scenario, and identify the contenders.

Santa Ysabel Stakes Field Overview

A field of seven sophomore fillies lines up for this year’s Santa Isabel Stakes:

• #1 Cee Drew – Turf route stakes winner trying dirt for the first time.
• #2 Bank Shot – Finished third in a recent one-mile Oaks prep at Santa Anita.
• #3 French Blue – Impressive sprint debut winner for Bob Baffert.
• #4 Piney Woods – Maiden winner stepping up in class for trainer Michael McCarthy.
• #5 Forced Entry – Dominant mile maiden winner for Bob Baffert.
• #6 Super Corredora – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner trying to rebound.
• #7 My Love Caroline – California-bred filly stretching out in distance.

Pace Scenario

The early pace should be honest, with several fillies capable of showing speed.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Las Virgenes Stakes 2026 Video Picks (2-8-26)

Las Virgenes Stakes video analysis at Santa Anita Park (2-8-26). This is a Kentucky Oaks 2026 points race. Road to Kentucky Oaks 2026 video record (16 8-3-4).

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.  

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Video Update (2-1-26)

In this Kentucky Oaks 2026 video, I share my updated Fabulous 5 Oaks contenders.

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.  

Road to Kentucky Oaks 2026 Report (2-1-26)

The Grade 3 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park was the latest Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep race and On Time Girl overcame a troubled trip to win by 3 lengths at seven panels on Jan. 31. A total of fourteen Oaks points races have been run so far, and in this report, I will recap the Forward Gal, 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 the first 14 points races, my top choices have 6 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 4 show finishes. There are three Oaks Points races this week, the rescheduled Martha Washington on Feb. 6 (Oaklawn), the Suncoast on Feb. 7 (Tampa Bay), and the Las Virgenes on Feb. 8 (Santa Anita).

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps

Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park (1-31-26): Mythical was the second betting choice and she set a pressured pace before fading in the lane. On Time Girl ($4.20) chased from second early, got shuffled back to fourth, and she moved out, found running room in the stretch, and finished with good energy to win by 3 lengths (82 BSF). Imperatrice pressed from the outside post, led, and held the place by a neck over Sneaky Good. Hollen Drive was best of the rest in fourth and was followed by Mythical, Tessellate, Secane, and Music Burst. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the winner for Brad Cox. Fractions: 22.96, 46.05, 1:11.79, 1:24.59. 

Read more at The Runaway Horse

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Video Update (1-20-26)

In this Kentucky Oaks 2026 video, I share my Fabulous 5 Oaks contenders.

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.  

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Video Update (1-12-26)

In this Kentucky Oaks 2026 video, I share my Fabulous 5 Oaks contenders.

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse. 

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Video Update: Top 5 Contenders

In this Kentucky Oaks 2026 video, I share my Fabulous 5 Oaks contenders.

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse. 

Road to Kentucky Oaks 2026 Report (1-4-26)

The Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct was the latest road to Kentucky Oaks 2026 prep race and Dazzling Dame made the lead and ran away from the field. Eleven Oaks points races have been run so far, and in this report, I will recap the most recent points race, update the points standings, and share my top five Oaks fillies.

I cover all of the Oaks points races on The Runaway Horse video channel and through the first eleven Oaks preps, my top choices have four wins, three runner-up finishes, and three show finishes.

The Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park was originally supposed to be run on Saturday, Jan. 3, but it was moved to Jan. 10 due to wet weather.

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps

Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct (1-3-26): Morning line favorite Shilling scratched. That changed to pace complexion dramatically and Dazzling Dame ($6.24) made the early lead and aired by 11 1/2 lengths, and runner-up Two Bits was more than eleven lengths clear of show finisher Believable. Midnite Ginny and Britain also ran. Jevian Toledo rode the winner for Brittany Russell. Fractions: 23.55, 47.20, 1:12.75, 1:25.27, 1:38.30. 

Read more at The Runaway Horse

Road to Kentucky Oaks 2026 Report (12-14-25)

The road to Kentucky Oaks 2026 is in full swing. Nine Oaks points races have been run so far, and in this report, I will recap the points races, update the points standings, and share my top five Oaks fillies.

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps

Grade 3 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs (9-13-25): We are officially back on the Oaks trail. Taken by the Wind ($14.10) stalked from fourth, hit the front, and won by 5 1/4 lengths over post time favorite Miss Complicated. The latter sat in 5th and closed for the place but was no match for the winner. Joke Maker (3rd), Dazzling Dame (4th), Our Two Girls (5th), Embrace the Moment (6th), and Starlit Sky (7th) rounded out the order of finish in the first Oaks 2026 points race. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the winner for Ken McPeek. Fractions: 22.75, 45.57, 1:10.48, 1:23.43, 1:36.50. 

Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland (10-3-25): Percy’s Bar set the pace and kept on going, and she crossed the line 2 3/4 lengths in front of race favorite Tommy Jo, but the inquiry sign was flashing and the order of finish was reversed. Tommy Jo ($2.88) was placed first through disqualification for John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher. Percy’s Bar bumped Tommy Jo but the latter did not seem to be making a dent on the leader when the incident happened. The Grumpy Rabbit (3rd), Go to Girl (4th), Wonzee Weather (5th), Haute Diva (6th) completed the order of finish. Fractions: 23.13, 46.90, 1:11.52, 1:37.47, 1:44.69.

Read more at The Runaway Horse

Fractional Charting: Today's Racing Digest Video Series

My latest how to use Today's Racing Digest video focuses on Fractional Charting and how to best use it in your daily handicapping.

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.