Zany Leads Tight Kentucky Oaks Field as Demling Backs Prom Queen and a Longshot

Key facts

• The 2026 Kentucky Oaks runs Friday, May 1, at 8:40 p.m. ET at Churchill Downs.
• Zany is the 4-1 morning-line favorite after a second-place finish in the Ashland Stakes.
• Four horses scratched: Nycon, My Miss Mo, Bottle of Rouge, and Bella Ballerina.
• Jody Demling has nailed the Oaks-Derby double 12 times in 17 years.
• Demling is fading Percy's Bar (6-1) despite her Ashland win, citing a low speed rating of 97.
• Demling is high on Prom Queen (8-1), trained by Brad H. Cox, who has never finished worse than second.
• The purse is $1.5 million for the 1⅛-mile Grade 1 race for 3-year-old fillies.
• Other top contenders include Meaning (5-1), Explora (6-1), Counting Stars (8-1), and Always a Runner (10-1).

A Cool Evening Under the Twin Spires

The 2026 Kentucky Oaks will unfold on Friday, May 1, at 8:40 p.m. ET under forecasted cool and dry skies at Churchill Downs. The $1.5 million, Grade 1 race for 3-year-old fillies covers 1⅛ miles and features a competitive field of 14 horses, with seven listed at 10-1 or lower on the morning line. Zany, the 4-1 favorite, enters off a second-place finish to Percy's Bar in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 3. The field also includes Meaning (5-1), Explora (6-1), Percy's Bar (6-1), Counting Stars (8-1), Prom Queen (8-1), and Always a Runner (10-1).

Four Scratches Reshape the Field

The field has been reduced by four scratches since the post-position draw. Nycon, trained by Whit Beckman, was the latest defection on Friday morning. Earlier scratches included Saffie Joseph Jr.'s My Miss Mo, Bob Baffert's Bottle of Rouge, and Brendan Walsh's Bella Ballerina, who had been listed at 10-1. The remaining 14 horses will go to post at 8:40 p.m. ET. The scratches have shifted the betting landscape, though the top of the odds board remains largely intact.

Demling’s Record and Contrarian Picks

Jody Demling, a fixture in horse racing handicapping, has hit the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the last 17 years. Last year, he correctly predicted the top three finishers of the Kentucky Derby in order, cashing a $1,682 superfecta. He also called the exacta in the 2025 Preakness. For the 2026 Oaks, Demling is fading Percy's Bar despite her 6-1 odds and Percy's Bar posted a speed rating of 97 in that race, among the lowest of the Oaks entrants. The filly, trained by Ben Colebrook, has never finished out of the money in six career starts but has raced only once in 2026.

Prom Queen and a Mysterious Longshot

Demling is high on Prom Queen (8-1), trained by Brad H. Cox. The filly has raced three times, never finishing lower than second. She broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park on February 20 with a winning time of 1:45.77 over 1 1/16 miles on a dirt-fast track. Demling is also backing a double-digit longshot whose trainer, he says, 'is super confident.' He has not named the horse publicly but is sharing his full projected leaderboard on SportsLine. The pick could yield a significant payout if the longshot hits the board.

The Stakes and the Wider Context

The Kentucky Oaks is the premier race for 3-year-old fillies, often serving as a precursor to the Kentucky Derby the following day. The $1.5 million purse and Grade 1 status attract top contenders from across the country. This year's field includes horses with strong recent form: Zany won the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes on March 1 at Oaklawn Park; Explora won the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes on March 27 at Oaklawn; and Counting Stars won the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 4. The depth of the field, combined with the scratches, makes for a wide-open race.

What to Watch For

Post time is 8:40 p.m. ET Friday at Churchill Downs. The weather forecast calls for cool, dry conditions, which should favor horses with proven form on fast dirt. Demling’s picks, available on SportsLine, will be closely watched by bettors given his historical success. His fade of Percy's Bar and support for Prom Queen and a longshot could shape wagering patterns. The Oaks field, now set at 14, promises a competitive and potentially lucrative race for those who follow the handicapper's lead.

The bottom line

• Zany is the 4-1 favorite but faces a deep field including Meaning, Explora, and Percy's Bar.
• Four scratches have reduced the field: Nycon, My Miss Mo, Bottle of Rouge, and Bella Ballerina.
• Jody Demling, with 12 Oaks-Derby doubles, is fading Percy's Bar due to a low speed rating.
• Demling is backing Prom Queen (8-1) and an unnamed double-digit longshot.
• The race is Friday, May 1, at 8:40 p.m. ET at Churchill Downs with a $1.5 million purse.
• Cool, dry weather is forecast, favoring horses with fast-dirt form.