The Kentucky Oaks TDN Top 10 for Jan. 21: It’s Anybody’s Race

[Wandering Eyes]

There's not a whole lot of guesswork when it comes to putting together a Top 12 list for this year's GI Kentucky Derby. Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) is clearly Number One, and finding a list of quality horses to slot in behind him isn't that difficult. If only compiling a similar list for the Kentucky Oaks was that easy.

The 3-year-old filly set has begun the new year without a clear leader, and many who will make this list have to prove more. It's also early…very early. That means there's little doubt that the Oaks picture will change quite a bit between now and the first Friday in May.

1) ZANY (American Pharoah–Mo' Green, by Uncle Mo) O-Repole Stable; B-D.J. Stable (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $350,000 yrl '24 FTSAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $161,500. Last Start: Won Dec. 6 GII Demoiselle Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10.

Sire American Pharoah has become best known for his success with turf runners. But in this $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase, the 2015 Triple Crown winner could have one of his first breakout stars on the dirt. She began her career in a Nov. 2 maiden race at Gulfstream, an unusual starting point considering that trainer Todd Pletcher doesn't usually gear up his top horses in Florida before the “Championship Meet.” But she left little doubt that day that she can run. Running off the screen, she won by 6 1/2 lengths. Pletcher then sent her to the GII Demoiselle, where she romped by 8 1/2 lengths while earning a solid Beyer of 89. Pletcher is a big fan of the Demoiselle. He's won it eight times, and two of those winners, Ashado (Saint Ballado) and Malathaat (Curlin), came back to win the Oaks the following year. Pletcher reports that Zany will make her next start in the Feb. 7 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

2) EXPLORA (Blame–Collections Choice, by Bernardini) O-Michael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Mesingw Farm (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $22,000 yrl '24 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo '25 FTMMAY. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 5-3-2-0, $628,000. Last Start: Won Jan. 10 Santa Ynez Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 35.

This filly was purchased for $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2025, and she has loads of talent. After winning for the first time around two turns in the GII Oak Leaf Stakes, she turned in a big effort to finish second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Surprisingly, she made her 2026 debut in the Santa Ynez Stakes on Jan. 10 at Santa Anita, which is a seven-furlong race. Not sure why trainer Bob Baffert decided to turn her back in distance, but the Hall of Famer must have had a good reason.

3) SUPER CORREDORA (Gun Runner–Super Simple, by Super Saver) O-Spartan Equine Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Robert Gardiner & Michael Olszewki; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-John Sadler. Sales History: $400,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-2-1-0, $1,093,600. Last Start: Won Oct. 31 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 30.

This filly will likely be named the 2025 2-Year-Old Filly Champion off her somewhat surprising win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. But she still has more to prove. She was 8-1 in that race, and she took three starts to break her maiden. She ran a respectable 84 Beyer in the Breeders' Cup, but there are others who are faster. She will make her 3-year-old debut in the Feb. 8 GIII Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.

4) MYTHICAL (St Patrick's Day–Lailoni, by Brethren) O/B-Arindel (Fl); T-Jorge Delgado. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-5-0-0, $540,750. Last Start: Won Nov. 29 My Dear Girl Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0.

Don't dismiss this filly because she has had some of her biggest wins against fellow Florida-breds. She started off the year sprinting and was sensational. Her 93 Beyer number, which she received in her win in the Tremont Stakes against males, was the fastest number turned in by any 2-year-old filly in 2025. But the race in which she looked like a serious Oaks contender was the FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl Stakes. In her first and only test around two turns, she had no problem with the distance. She will start next against open company in the GIII Forward Gal Stakes, a seven-furlong race on Jan. 31 at Gulfstream.

5) DAZZLING DAME (Girvin–Awesome Dama, by Corinthian) O-Respect the Valleys LLC; B-Maria M Haire (Md); T-Brittany T Russell. Sales History: $50,000 RNA wnlg '23 KEENOV: $65,000 yrl '24 OBSWIN; $45,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: MSW, 5-4-0-0, $240,525. Last Start: Won Jan. 3 Busanda Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 22.

It's not often that the Busanda Stakes produces a legitimate candidate for the Kentucky Oaks, but Dazzling Dame is just that. The Maryland-bred, who is trained by Brittany Russell, romped by 11 1/2 lengths in the race at Aqueduct and ran a 91 Beyer. That's the best Beyer figure run so far this year by any 3-year-old filly. In her only try in a graded stakes, she didn't show much when fourth in the GIII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs, but she appears to have improved considerably since then. Obviously, she still needs to prove herself against tougher foes. Russell reports that Dazzling Dame may go next in the Mar. 14 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.

6) TOMMY JO (Into Mischief–Mother Mother, by Pioneerof the Nile) O/B-Spendthrift Farm (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Lifetime Record: MGISW, 4-3-0-0, $677,963. Last Start: 5th GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31. Kentucky Oaks Points: 13.

The mystery filly of 2025 was Tommy Jo, who was so impressive when winning the GI Spinaway Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths for the team of Todd Pletcher and Spendthrift Farm. She was then placed first through disqualification in the GI Alcibiades Stakes, but wasn't nearly as visually impressive that day. Up next was the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she never seriously threatened on her way to a fifth-place finish. The question is whether or not she can reclaim the form that she displayed in the Spinaway. She is back with Pletcher at Palm Beach Downs and is expected to make her 2026 debut in the Forward Gal.

7) TAKEN BY THE WIND (Rock Your World–Up for Grabs, by First Samurai) O-Magdalena Racing, Terry Bradshaw, Graham Leveston, Raasi Stable; B-Courtney L. Meagher (Fl); T-Kenneth G McPeek. Sales History: $70,000 yrl '24 FTKJUL; $20,000 yrl '24 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $270,710. Last Start: Won Jan. 17 Silverbulletday Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 30.

Co-owned by NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, Taken by the Wind has done nothing wrong. She's for 3-for-3, won the Pocahontas, and is coming off a win in one of the year's first important preps for the Oaks, the Silverbulletday Stakes. She only won that race by a neck, but trainer Kenny McPeek, who has campaigned some terrific fillies in recent years, is very high on her. The reason why she missed the Breeders' Cup is because she was on the vet's list at the time, something that didn't sit well with McPeek. Taken by the Wind will likely run next in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks on Mar. 21 or the GII Fantasy Stakes, which will be run on Mar. 27 at Oaklawn Park.

Taken By the Wind | Sarah Andrew

8) PERCY'S BAR (Upstart–Honestly Deb, by Super Saver) O-Hat Creek Racing; B-Brereton C Jones (Ky); T-Ben Colebrook. Sales History: $52,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Lifetime Record: SW & MGISP, 5-2-2-1, $555,933. Last Start: 3rd GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31. Kentucky Oaks Points: 14.

Though only a $52,000 Keeneland September purchase, this filly by Upstart has some class. She crossed the wire first in the Alcibiades, only to be disqualified for bumping Tommy Jo. She then came back with a creditable third-place finish in the Juvenile Fillies. Her Breeders' Cup race is better than it looks, as she was body checked near the top of the stretch and hit the rail, losing momentum. Trainer Ben Colebrook reports he would like to give his filly two starts before the Oaks, with her final prep coming in the GI Ashland Stakes Apr. 3 at Keeneland.

9) HIT PARADE (Street Sense–Wedding Band, by Candy Ride {Arg}) O-Gary and Mary West; B-Gary and Mary West Stables Inc. (Ky); T-Brad H Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-3-0-1, $147,980. Last Start: Won Dec. 20 Untapable Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10.

But, of course, Brad Cox has a filly on the road to the Kentucky Oaks. Hit Parade started off slowly, finishing a distant third in her debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis in a maiden race on the turf. But once Cox shifted her to main track races, she has never looked back. She's won three straight, including the Untapable Stakes. She's being pointed to the Jan. 31 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn.

10) BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Brendan P Walsh. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $301,525. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Last Start: Won Nov. 29 GII Golden Rod Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10.

A Godolphin homebred trained by Brendan Walsh, she's lightly race, having started only twice. Her last outing resulted in a win in the GII Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill. Of some concern is the fact that in that race, which was her first around two turns, she had a 3 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole and wound up winning by just a half-length. She has been working regularly at the Fair Grounds while awaiting her 3-year-old debut which is expected to be in the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Feb. 14 at the Fair Grounds.

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