Percy’s Bar aims to light up the night at Churchill Downs in a Kentucky Oaks filled with stories

The winner of the Ashland Stakes (G1), with the Brazilian Luan Machado in her reins, arrives at the best moment of her campaign for a special edition of the classic, which this year will be run under the lights of Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— The 2026 Kentucky Oaks (G1) will feature a completely different element. For the first time in its modern history, the great classic for 3-year-old fillies will be held at night, under the lights of Churchill Downs, seeking to boost both the television audience and betting volume.

And in this special setting, few participants arrive surrounded by as many stories as Percy's Bar, the filly who will attempt to confirm that her victory in the Ashland Stakes (G1) was no fluke. The daughter of Upstart is coming off securing the first official G1 of her campaign at Keeneland following that controversial disqualification suffered last year in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1), where she had crossed the wire first but ended up relegated to second place. Now, under the preparation of Ben Colebrook, she will seek the greatest victory of her life in a race that promises enormous parity.

Percy’s Bar represents much more than a strong candidate for the Oaks. Bred by the late Brereton Jones, the bay maintains the connection of one of the historical figures of North American breeding with a race he already won with Believe You Can (Proud Citizen), Proud Spell (Proud Citizen), and Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection). A fourth Kentucky Oaks would add another massive chapter to that legacy. Furthermore, the filly is the first G1 winner for Upstart, a stallion at Airdrie Stud, a farm founded precisely by Jones. Even her name has history: Percy’s Bar honors Percy Pool, a legendary bartender at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, an endearing character within the Kentuckyracing environment.

After more than 5 months without racing, Percy’s Bar returned brilliantly in the Ashland, defeating Zany (American Pharoah)—precisely the favorite for the Oaks—by 2 1/4 lengths. Colebrook believes she can still continue to evolve. “I think she can improve. One always thinks about the possibility of a bounce after a great performance, but she doesn't seem like a candidate for that because she is extremely consistent,” the trainer explained after the race. Percy’s Bar has never finished out of the money in 6 starts and must now respond to a new demand: moving from the 1700 meters of the Ashland to the 1800 meters of the Kentucky Oaks.

Although she lost at Keeneland, Zany will still start as the betting favorite. The Todd Pletcher representative had begun her campaign with three consecutive victories, including a crushing performance in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) and another solid conquest in the Suncoast Stakes (L). Pletcher, who has already won the Oaks 4 times, downplayed the defeat in the Ashland. “I don't think she loved the Keeneland track, nor the short final stretch for that distance. But the race served its purpose of giving her good preparation four weeks before the Oaks,” he noted. “I really like how she has trained since then at Churchill.”

The daughter of American Pharoah also shares another huge pressure: she belongs to Repole Stable, whose colors will also be represented by Renegade (Into Mischief), the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

The field of strong contenders is broad. Counting Stars (Honor A.P.) arrives after romping by 5 1/2 lengths in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park for trainer Mark Casse. Also appearing is Prom Queen (Quality Road), a homebred for Gary and Mary West prepared by Brad Cox, who dominated the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). From California, two heavyweight names arrive: Explora (Blame), from Bob Baffert, and Meaning (Gun Runner), the recent heroine of the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) for Michael McCarthy. Regarding the latter, McCarthy highlighted: “With each work and each race, she has become more professional. Mentally she keeps growing and handles everything presented to her perfectly. Now we will see how she responds Friday under the lights.”

With three confirmed withdrawals before the race—Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), My Miss Mo (Uncle Mo), and Bella Ballerina (Street Sense)—Lovely Grey (Vekoma), Nycon (Nyquist), and Resist (Maclean's Music) also entered from the also-eligible list. But beyond names and records, the great question will be how all these fillies respond to the completely different atmosphere that Churchill Downs will offer at night. Because this time, the Kentucky Oaks will not only put prestige and glory at stake; it will also be a completely new spectacle for a race seeking to reinvent itself without losing its essence.