The Kentucky Oaks 2026 results are in, and Always a Runner won with a late charge.
The Kentucky Oaks results came after what was considered an open race, with no heavy favorite and a trio of horses scratched. Always a Runner made a late move up the board to become a co-favorite at race time, then used another late charge to win the race.
Full Kentucky Oaks Results
After Always a Runner crossed the finish line first, Meaning came in second place followed by Counting Stars and Explora in third. Prom Queen came in fourth place.
The payouts (based on a $2 bet) included: Always a Runner paying out $13.04 to win, $7.46 to place, and $5.44 to show. Meaning paid $7.44 to place and $5.62 to show, and Counting Stars paid $5.36 to show.
The payouts for the Kentucky Oaks finishing combos included:
- Exacta (based on a $2 bet): 9/5, $97.58
- Trifecta (based on a $0.50 bet): 9/5/4, $193.87
- Superfecta (based on a $1 bet): 9/5/4/1, $1845.74
Zany Considered Early Kentucky Oaks Favorite
Heading into Friday’s Kentucky Oaks race, Zany was seen as a favorite out of the No. 2 post, starting the Kentucky Oaks with 4-to-1 odds. By post time on Friday, Zany was tied with Always a Runner at 9-to-2 odds.
Zany was stymied by a rough start, stumbling out of the gate and falling to the back of the pack.
As CBS Sports noted, horse racing expert Jody Demlin had another favorite in mind.
“Another stunner: Demling likes Prom Queen at 8-1,” the report noted. “The Brad H. Cox-trained horse has raced three times in her career and has finished no lower than second place. In her first event, the 1-mile GP MSW at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23, she finished second behind She Be Smooth and just ahead of Paseo. She followed that up with a first-place finish at the 1 1/16-mile dirt-fast MSW at Gulfstream Park, with a winning time of 1:45.77.”
Kentucky Oaks Built Anticipation for Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Oaks serves as a prelude to Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, with a time change building even more anticipation. As The Athletic’s Dan Santoromita noted, the race was moved to the end of Friday’s schedule and took place under the lights at Churchill Downs.
The crowd is starting to pick up in size and activity at Churchill Downs with the Kentucky Oaks a few races away. We’re still two hours away from post time in the new prime-time slot. Last year, the race was already finished at this time. There were multiple races after the Oaks, but this year it is the very last race on the schedule. That means the Oaks will take place under the lights.”
The Athletic’s Hannah Vanbiber added that the Kentucky Oaks hosted a Survivor’s Parade and began a new partnership to help a good cause.
“This is the first year that Churchill Downs has partnered with a national organization, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, to raise funds,” Vanbiber wrote. “Fashion and lifestyle influencer Bridget Bahl, who is completing her cancer treatment, raised $100K for BCRF through a campaign last year and helped lead the parade this year.”
Kentucky Oaks 2026 Results & Payouts After Always a Runner’s Win