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. 

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Pegasus World Cup 2026 Early Video Preview

Pegasus World Cup video preview. Pegasus World Cup hopefuls (first entry stage): Bishops Bay, Captain Cook, Chunk of Gold, Disco Time, Full Serrano, Goal Oriented, Poster, Rattle N Roll, Skippylongstocking, Tappan Street, Touchuponastar, White Abarrio.

The Pegasus World Cup Day card will be held at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

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Smarty Jones Stakes 2026 Video Picks

Smarty Jones Stakes video analysis. This is a Kentucky Derby 2026 points race. Road to Derby video record (11 4-3-1).

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Jerome + Busanda Stakes 2026 Video Picks

Jerome Stakes video analysis. This is a Kentucky Derby 2026 points race. Road to Derby video record (11 4-3-1).

Busanda Stakes video analysis. This is a Kentucky Oaks 2026 points race. Road to Oaks video record (10 4-3-3).

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Santa Ynez Stakes 2026 Video Analysis

Santa Ynez Stakes video analysis. This is a Kentucky Oaks 2026 points race. Road to Oaks video record (10 4-3-3).

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Kentucky Derby 2026 Video Update (12-31-25)

In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders.

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Road to Kentucky Derby 2026 Report (12-31-25)

The road to Kentucky Derby is in full swing. Eleven Derby points races have been run so far, and in this year-end report, I will recap the points races, update the points standings, and share my exceptional eleven Derby contenders.

I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my video channel and through the first eleven points races, my top choices have four wins, three runner-up finishes, and a show finish.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Mr. A. P. is off the Derby trail due a undisclosed injury. He is expected to make a full recovery and might return by the end of March.

Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs (9-13-25): Ten horses competed in the first Derby points race and Spice Runner ($12.38) sat in midpack, moved up, and set his sights on stretch leader Comport and got up late by a head. Comport dueled on the lead and was clearly second best. Vost raced wide and rallied for the show and Nothing Personal (4th), Maximus Prime (5th), Shake and Rattle (6th), Nine Ball (7th), So Special (8th), Sometime (9th), and No More Cents (10th) also ran. Jose Ortiz guided home the winner for Steve Asmussen. Fractions: 22.69, 46.06, 1:10.83, 1:23.34, 1:36.59. This race has been alternating between a mile and 1 1/6 miles in recent years. Looking at the last 10 runnings at one mile (one turn), the 2025 clocking ranks fourth.   

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