Kentucky Oaks update: Scratch, training notes and what's next

Bob Baffert lost one of his Kentucky Oaks 2026 contenders Sunday morning at Churchill Downs when Bottle of Rouge failed to scope cleanly after her final pre-race breeze and was scratched from Friday's Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Her defection opens the door for Go Go Grey Stable's Lovely Grey to enter the field.

Sunday's Oaks training notes:

Always a Runner – Gazelle Stakes (G3) winner Always a Runner jogged Sunday morning at Churchill Downs for trainer Chad Brown.

Bella Ballerina – Godolphin's Bella Ballerina galloped Sunday morning under Erin Campbell for trainer Brendan Walsh. She drew post 10 for the Oaks.

"I'm really excited about her for the Oaks," jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. "She's been training great and is coming into the race in great shape. I hope we can repeat what we did on her sister (2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous)."

Bottle of Rouge/Explora – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert worked his two Kentucky Oaks hopefuls Sunday morning. First up at 5:30 a.m. was his wife Jill's Bottle of Rouge, who worked a half-mile in 48.8 seconds with Martin Garcia aboard in company with Grade 3 stakes-winning filly Forced Entry. The move was meant to be her last major one prior to Friday's 152nd run for the lilies, where she was to be handled by Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith.

Following the move, Baffert noted the daughter of Vino Rosso did not scope cleanly and would scratch from the Oaks. With the defection of Bottle of Rouge, Lovely Grey could move into the field should her connections decide to run. Lovely Grey is also cross-entered in the $600,000 Edgewood (G2) on turf.

Also on the Oaks work tab was Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's Explora, who came out at 9 a.m. with Garcia up and worked five furlongs in 58.8 seconds in company with 3-year-old maiden Winston Ave.

"I don't think they can beat her," Garcia said as he rode Explora back to the Baffert headquarters. "You know what, she reminds me of a filly named Plum Pretty (aboard whom he won the 2011 Kentucky Oaks). She was a good one and so is this one."

Explora, who drew post 1 and will have the saddle services of champion rider Flavien Prat, will be making her eighth career start. In her first seven, she finished either first or second and became a millionaire ($1,053,000) in the process.

Brooklyn Blonde/Meaning – Trainer Michael McCarthy's Oaks duo of Brindlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbreds' Meaning and Sun-Kissed Stable and Bobby Flay's Brooklyn Blonde got some exercise in Sunday morning prior to their planned outing in Friday's Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.

"Brooklyn" was out of Barn 27 early, hitting the track at 5:30 a.m. for a jog of one mile. Then during the 7:15 to 7:30 a.m. special Derby/Oaks training window, Meaning galloped a mile as her conditioner looked on.

"We're all good," McCarthy noted. "No complaints from me."

The trainer has signed on top California rider Juan Hernandez to handle Meaning in the $1.5 million headliner, and California reinsman Kazushi Kimura will be aboard Brooklyn Blonde.

Counting Stars/Search Party – West Point Thoroughbreds' Counting Stars and Tracy Farmer's Search Party jogged in the mile chute and then galloped a mile and a half during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. Derby/Oaks training period.

Counting Stars, the 5 1/2-length winner of the Fantasy (G2) in her most recent start, was partnered by Froylan Garcia, and Search Party, the Fantasy runner-up, had Elver Vargas aboard.

Search Party and Counting Stars will start the Oaks next to each other in posts 3 and 4, respectively.

"They both drew well," said Mark Casse, who will leg up Francisco Arrieta on Counting Stars (8-1 on the morning line) and Cristian Torres on Search Party (30-1).

Dazzling Dame – Respect the Valleys, Medallion Racing and Madaket Stables' Dazzling Dame jogged a mile and galloped a mile under exercise rider Emma Wolfe during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. training period for Derby and Oaks horses.

Trained by Brittany Russell, Dazzling Dame will exit post 7 as a 30-1 morning-line proposition under two-time Oaks winner Luis Saez.

My Miss Mo – Averill Racing, Mathis Stable and Tristan de Meric's My Miss Mo jogged one lap over the Churchill Downs surface for the first time Sunday morning after arriving from Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Pashmina – Red White and Blue Racing's Pashmina had a walk day for trainer Rob Atras after working a half-mile in 49.6 seconds Saturday morning.

"Easy day for her," said Jesse Sauter, who was aboard for the breeze. "She came out of the work good."

Atras said part of Pashmina's training this week would include another trip to the paddock and possibly a visit to the starting gate.

Listed at 30-1 on the Oaks morning line, Pashmina will exit post 13 under Ramon Vazquez.

Percy's Bar – Hat Creek Racing's Percy's Bar jogged two miles under exercise rider Rene Morales for trainer Ben Colebrook.

Winner of the Ashland (G1) in her most recent start, Percy's Bar arrived at Churchill Downs Saturday morning and got settled into Barn 42, Stall 14, the same spot occupied by Seattle Slew in 1977.

Percy's Bar, the co-second choice at 6-1 on the Kentucky Oaks morning line, will exit post 11 under Luan Machado.

Prom Queen – Gary and Mary West's Prom Queen drew post 10 for Friday's Kentucky Oaks and was installed as an 8-1 morning-line proposition for trainer Brad Cox.

"I think it's a solid post for her," Cox said. "She's right there in the middle of the gate, which gives her options heading into the first turn. She's tactical enough to put herself wherever she needs to be, so I was happy with it."

Resist – Military Pike Racing Stables' Resist, the second also-eligible for the Oaks, worked a half-mile in 47.4 seconds for trainer Tommy Drury Jr. during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. training window.

Zany – Zany, a daughter of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, went to the track at 6 a.m. Sunday morning with exercise rider Nora McCormack in the tack and trainer Todd Pletcher following in trace from their Barn 39 headquarters.

The chestnut filly, owned by Mike Repole's Repole Stable, looked a picture as McCormack sat high in the saddle. Asked how long she had worked for Pletcher, McCormack smiled. "Too long," she said. By way of explanation, she offered: "I don't like to count the years."

Pletcher had McCormack take the 4-1 Oaks morning line favorite to the main track for a gallop once around – "five to the five," as it was explained.

On Friday, Zany will be handled by her regular rider, Irad Ortiz Jr.