Kentucky Oaks 2026: Bottle of Rouge to scratch; Lovely Grey draws in
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bob Baffert sent two Kentucky Oaks entrants to the track to breeze Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. By 11 a.m., he had one prospect remaining for Friday’s race.
While Explora turned in a solid five-furlong breeze that pleased her trainer, stablemate Bottle of Rouge coughed back at the barn following her own work and will be scratched. The withdrawal allows the first also-eligible, Lovely Grey, to draw into the Oaks field.
Lovely Grey, most recently second in the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park for trainer Kelsey Danner, was a $1,500 late nomination to the Oaks prior to an April deadline.
The remaining also-eligibles, in preference order, are Nycon and Resist. They have until 9 a.m. Friday morning to draw in.
Bottle of Rouge was caught by Daily Racing Form working a half-mile in 48.78 seconds in company with Forced Entry in the dark shortly after the track opened Sunday. The Grade 1-winning juvenile has won both her starts this year, taking the Sunland Oaks and Virginia Oaks.
Later, following the second renovation break of the morning, Explora worked a strong five furlongs in company with Winston Ave in 58.81 on a fast track that was turning in quick times. Explora worked on the inside of the pair and galloped out with enthusiasm while her workmate appeared not to be asked to gallop out much. Jockey Martin Garcia enthused that the work was “awesome” as the filly headed back to the barn.
“She worked really well,” Baffert said. “She needed to do something like that today.”
Explora has never been worse than second in seven career starts. Most recently, she won the Grade 3 Honeybee on March 1. She was forced to scratch from a planned final prep in the Grade 2 Fantasy with a fever and has posted four strong works since.
With Explora’s breeze Sunday morning, all of the current Oaks runners have completed their final serious works.
– additional reporting by David Grening
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