Godolphin’s undefeated Bella Ballerina leads a list of 89 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 152nd running of the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) set for Friday, May 1 at Churchill Downs.
The 89 fillies were made eligible to compete in the 1 1/8-mile Longines Kentucky Oaks through a $200 early nomination payment that closed Wednesday, Feb. 18. A $1,500 late nomination deadline is available through Wednesday, April 8.
Bella Ballerina stamped herself as one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Oaks when she won the Feb. 14 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (GII) at Fair Grounds. Prior to that start, the Brendan Walsh trainee won the Golden Rod Stakes (GII) at Churchill Downs.
Other stakes-winning nominees include Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) winner Super Corredora; Oak Leaf (GII) winner Explora; Forward Gal (GIII) winner On Time Girl; Pocahontas (GIII) winner Taken by the Wind; Las Virgenes (Listed) winner Meaning and Suncoast (Listed) winner Zany.
Like the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI), the Longines Kentucky Oaks has been held annually since 1875. For the first time in 2026, the Kentucky Oaks will be held in primetime on NBC during an 8 p.m. ET broadcast. The race highlights a day-long celebration at Churchill Downs featuring world-class racing, fashion, food and a focus on women’s health and community initiatives.
Early Nominations for the 152nd Longines Kentucky Oaks:
A
A. P.’s Girl
Agrippina
Always a Runner
B
Bad Manners
Bank Shot
Bella Ballerina
Belle of the Barn
Blazing Brat
Bossy Candy
Bottle of Rouge
Brooklyn Blonde
C
Cashed
Cee Drew
Classic Glide
Coco Connect
Coffee Connection
Counting Stars
Current Yield
D
Dare Greatly
Daring Pursuit
Dazzling Dame
Dunmore Beach
E
Easter Promise
Explora
F
Flawless Road
Forced Entry
Fortunate Truth
French Blue
French Friction
G
Galinda
H
Haute Diva
Hit Parade
Hypergamy
I
Imperatrice
J
Just Singing
K
Kadabra
Knickleandime
L
La Ville Lumiere
Labwah
Law School
Life of Joy
Love and Trust
Luv Your Neighbor
M
Map of the Moon
Market Chill
Mass
Mathea
Maximum Offer
Meaning
Mo’ Em Down
My Miss Mo
N
Newtown Pike
Nimah
Nycon
O
Omaha Bay
On Time Girl
P
Paradise
Pashmina
Peanutbutterbombe
Percy’s Bar
Perfect Town
Piney Woods
Powered by Family
Prom Queen
R
Ready Comete
Ready for a Title
Resist
Resplendence
S
Search Party
She Be Smooth
Sister Troienne
Slice
Slow Kara
Sneaky Good
Soloist
Spicy Princess
Star Actress
Sticker Shock
Summer Grey
Super Corredora
Swing Vote
T
Take Charge Macy
Taken by the Wind
The Grumpy Rabbit
Two Bits
V
Via de la Valle
W
Wonzee Weather
Y
You’re in Heaven
Z
Zany