Kentucky Oaks Results 2026, Winner, Payouts and Order of Finish
Always A Runner came away with the 2026 Kentucky Oaks victory on Friday night.
The Chad Brown-trained horse used a surge down the right part of the track in the final part of the race to claim the top race on the Friday card of Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Oaks Results
- Always A Runner
- Meaning
- Counting Stars
- Explora
- Prom Queen
- Zany
- Percy's Bar
- Dazzling Dame
- Resist
- Search Party
- Pashmina
- Lovely Grey
- Brooklyn Blonde
Always A Runner surged past Meaning, Counting Stars and the rest of the Kentucky Oaks field in the final stretch.
Always A Runner brought home the first Oaks victory for trainer Chad Brown.
Jockey Jose Ortiz added the Oaks victory to his lengthy resume that includes a pair of Triple Crown races and five events at the Breeders Cup. Ortiz won five of the races on the Friday card at Churchill Downs.
Meaning, Counting Stars and Explora rounded out the top four in a race where almost half the horses entered the gate with 10-1 odds or lower.
Zany, one of the two pre-race favorites, never was in contention for the win. She finished back in sixth place.
Most of the trainers and jockeys involved in Friday's race have a stake in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
Brown will try to go for the rare Oaks-Derby double as a trainer with Emerging Market.
