Kentucky Oaks 2026: Draw, posts, odds for fillies’ feature

Zany was installed as the 4-1 morning-line favorite for Kentucky Oaks 2026 on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Todd Pletcher's Demoiselle (G2) winner drew post 2 for Repole Stable with Irad Ortiz Jr. up. Post time for the $1.5 million, 1 1/8-mile classic for 3-year-old fillies is 8:40 p.m. EDT, the centerpiece of a 13-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m. NBC and Peacock carry the broadcast.

Zany started her career 3-for-3 and suffered her first setback three weeks ago in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland, finishing second to Percy's Bar. Ortiz was aboard for the Ashland and her victories in the Demoiselle and Suncoast.

Pletcher seeks a fifth Oaks victory after winning with Malathaat (2021), Princess of Sylmar (2013), Rags to Riches (2007) and Ashado (2004).

Meaning, the Road to the Kentucky Oaks points leader at 126, drew post 5 at 5-1. Michael McCarthy's Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner has won three of four starts for Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Juan Hernandez has the call.

Percy's Bar and Explora share co-third choice at 6-1.

Ben Colebrook's Percy's Bar drew post 11 with Luan Machado for Hat Creek Racing. One of two Grade 1 winners in the field, the Hat Creek runner finished first in last fall's Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland but was disqualified for interference in the stretch. She followed with a troubled third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) before her Ashland score.

Bob Baffert's Honeybee (G3) winner Explora drew the rail for Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. Flavien Prat has the call. The 7-4-3-0 filly has been favored in each of her seven starts.

Baffert pursues a fourth Oaks victory after taking the race with Abel Tasman (2017), Plum Pretty (2011) and Pegram-owned Silverbulletday (1999). The Hall of Famer also saddles Bottle of Rouge (20-1) for his wife, Jill. The Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Virginia Oaks winner drew post 8 with two-time Oaks-winning rider Mike Smith aboard. Smith won the race with Abel Tasman in 2017 and Princess of Sylmar in 2013.

Brad Cox, who took last year's Oaks with Good Cheer, sends out Gary and Mary West's Prom Queen (8-1) in pursuit of back-to-back victories. The Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner drew post 10 with Javier Castellano. The 2-for-3 Cox runner won the Gulfstream prep by daylight.

D. Wayne Lukas was the last trainer to win consecutive runnings, taking the 1989 race with Open Mind and the 1990 edition with Seaside Attraction. Cox's previous Oaks winners are Shedaresthedevil (2020) and Monomoy Girl (2018). Castellano won the 2016 Oaks aboard Cathryn Sophia.

Mark Casse's Fantasy (G2) winner Counting Stars is 8-1 from post 4 for West Point Thoroughbreds with Francisco Arrieta.

Brendan Walsh's Golden Rod (G2) winner Bella Ballerina is 10-1 from post 12. Godolphin's homebred is a half-sister to 2023 Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous and has won three of four starts. She finished second to Life of Joy in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) most recently. Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Pretty Mischievous to the 2023 Oaks victory, retains the mount and the filly will run with blinkers off.

Chad Brown's Gazelle (G3) winner Always a Runner picked up 10-1 odds from post 9 for Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm. José Ortiz, who took the 2019 Oaks aboard Serengeti Empress, has the mount.

Luis Saez, a two-time Oaks-winning rider with Good Cheer (2025) and Secret Oath (2022), has the call on Brittany Russell's Busanda winner Dazzling Dame (30-1) from post 7 for Respect the Valleys, Medallion Racing and Madaket Stables.

Saffie Joseph Jr.'s Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up My Miss Mo drew post 6 at 20-1 with Micah Husbands. Casse's Martha Washington winner Search Party drew post 3 at 30-1 for Tracy Farmer with Cristian Torres.

Rob Atras's Gazelle runner-up Pashmina drew post 13 at 30-1 with Ramon Vazquez for Red White and Blue Racing. McCarthy's Santa Anita Oaks runner-up Brooklyn Blonde drew the outside post 14 at 30-1 with Kazushi Kimura for Sun-Kissed Stables and Bobby Flay.

Pletcher's Davona Dale (G2) winner She Be Smooth was withdrawn from consideration earlier in the week. The trainer said he did not like the way the Calumet Farm filly moved out of her Thursday breeze at Palm Beach Downs.

Mike Maker's Bourbonette Oaks winner Lorelei Lee will instead run in the Edgewood (G2) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard. NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods's Busher winner Paradise heads to the Eight Belles (G2), also on the Oaks undercard.

Also eligible are Lovely Grey (30-1, Dylan Davis), Nycon (50-1, Jaime Torres) and Resist (50-1, Brian Hernandez Jr.).

The Kentucky Oaks caps its field at 14. Scratch time is 9 a.m. EDT on Friday.