2026 Kentucky Oaks

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) will miss Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks because of a minor injury, according to trainer Brendan Walsh Thursday morning. The news was first reported by Horse Racing Nation. The homebred, who was listed as 12-1 on the morning line, was scheduled to be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, who also lost his mount in the Kentucky Derby when Fulleffort (Liam's Map) was confirmed out on Thursday. The winner of her first three starts, including last season's GII Golden Rod Stakes and GII...

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's Explora (Blame), winner of Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee Stakes on Mar. 1, will miss her intended engagement in Friday's GII Fantasy Stakes at that venue after spiking a temperature, according to Horse Racing Nation. "She spiked a temperature from the trip and we had to treat her with antibiotics," Bob Baffert told HRN. "She'll go straight the [Kentucky] Oaks." Named a TDN Rising Star following a victory at Del Mar last summer, she was second in the GI Del Mar Debutante before rebounding to...