First Look: Ky. Derby, Oaks preps + Bayakoa showdown

Mother Nature played schedule-maker last week, and now horseplayers reap the benefits. Winter storms pushed the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes and Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park and with the Withers at Aqueduct from last Saturday to this Friday, packing even more Kentucky Derby and Oaks qualifying action into an already loaded week.

The Southwest and Martha Washington headline Friday's Oaklawn card, but Saturday's Bayakoa (G3) might steal the spotlight. Nitrogen, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and winner of last year's Alabama (G1), makes her Oaklawn debut against local standout Quietside, who captured last year's Fantasy (G2) and Honeybee (G3) on this same track.

With Derby and Oaks points up for grabs at three tracks and proven older fillies throwing down at Oaklawn, horseplayers have plenty to work with this week.

Friday

Withers, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Chad Brown sends a pair of maiden winners to Saturday's Kentucky Derby 2026 points race. Ottinho rallied from off the pace to break his maiden Dec. 31 at Aqueduct, wearing down Hadrian's Wall in the final strides to win by a head going 1 1/8 miles. The son of Quality Road improved in his second start after finishing third in his debut Nov. 23. Stablemate Schoolyardsuperman drew off to a 5 3/4-length maiden victory Dec. 6 at Aqueduct going one mile. The Practical Joke colt overcame a Sept. 13 spill in his career debut.

Southwest (G3), Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Smarty Jones winner Strategic Risk posted an 87 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form when drawing off by 4 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn on Jan. 3, and he captured the Florida Sire In Reality at Gulfstream Park by nine lengths Nov. 29. Litmus Test won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) by 1 1/4 lengths Dec. 13 with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure after finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Buetane ran second by two lengths in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita Jan. 10 with a 92 Beyer after a runner-up effort in the Hopeful (G1). D'code posted the field's top Beyer, 99, when winning his maiden at Oaklawn by 8 1/4 lengths Dec. 14.

Martha Washington, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 miles, fillies, 3-year-olds, 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

Hit Parade extended her winning streak to three with a front-running score in the Untapable at Fair Grounds on Dec. 20, posting an 81 Beyer. The Brad Cox-trained Street Sense filly is undefeated on dirt after breaking her maiden at Churchill Downs in September, adding an allowance win at the same track. Her only loss came on turf in her career debut.

Saturday

Bayakoa (G3), Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Nitrogen captured the Alabama (G1) and earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, when second in both the Breeders' Cup Distaff and Spinster Stakes (G1). The Mark Casse-trained filly makes her Oaklawn debut. Quietside, sixth in the Kentucky Oaks 2025, won last year's Fantasy Stakes (G2) and Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn.

D. Wayne Lukas (G2), Santa Anita, 7 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Splendora seized the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1, rallying from fifth to win by 4 3/4 lengths. The Bob Baffert-trained 5-year-old has won three straight, including the Tranquility Lake on Sept. 1 by 5 1/2 lengths. She earned a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the Tranquility Lake triumph.

Robert B. Lewis (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, 3-year-olds, 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Desert Gate hasn't finished worse than second in four career starts for trainer Bob Baffert. The Omaha Beach colt captured the Best Pal Stakes (G3) at Del Mar before runner-up efforts in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and American Pharoah (G1), the latter a neck defeat to Intrepido.

Thunder Road (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Gas Me Up, who upset the 6 1/2-furlong Joe Hernandez (G2) at 13-1 odds in his last start, stretches back out to a mile for the Thunder Road. The 6-year-old Hard Spun gelding has already proven his mettle going the flat mile: he won the King Edward (G2) over that distance at Woodbine in August and followed that up with a third-place finish behind next-out Breeders' Cup Mile winner Notable Speech in the Woodbine Mile.

Sam F. Davis, Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Renegade ran second in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct on Dec. 6, earning an 82 Beyer Speed Figure. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Into Mischief out of the Curlin mare Spice is Nice fought on gamely to finish behind Paladin. He won his Oct. 17 maiden at Aqueduct but was disqualified to second. 

Suncoast, Tampa Bay Downs, 1 mile 70 yards, fillies, 3-year-olds, 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

A daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Zany is undefeated in two starts for trainer Todd Pletcher. The filly drew clear to capture the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct on Dec. 6 by 8 1/2 lengths as the heavy favorite. She debuted with a 6 1/2-length maiden victory at Gulfstream on Nov. 2 after dueling for the early lead.