Kentucky Belle, bred and raised by WinStar Farm, secured victory in the Grade 3, $2 million Blackwood Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational at Kentucky Downs on Closing Day Wednesday. This win improved her flawless graded stakes record to two wins from two starts.
Trained by Brad Cox, the daughter of 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify entered the 1 5/16-mile race following her impressive graded debut win in the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 1 at Saratoga Race Course, where she narrowly edged out her competition with a late surge. In the Dueling Grounds Oaks, she dominated more comfortably, finishing 6 ¾ lengths ahead under jockey Flavien Prat, who went on to become Kentucky Downs’ leading jockey for the meet.
Elliott Walden, CEO of WinStar Farm, praised her progress: “She’s really developing well. The Saratoga Oaks was a big test, but she showed great determination, and to come back and win so decisively here points to an exciting future ahead for her as a 3- and 4-year-old.”
Starting from post nine, Kentucky Belle stayed just behind the front-runner Call On Me, who set the early pace with fractions of :25.29 for the first quarter-mile and :48.95 at the half-mile mark on the firm turf. Around the far turn, Kentucky Belle matched Call On Me’s pace effortlessly and pulled clear by the final two furlongs, urged by Prat. She sealed the win in a time of 2:07.45.
An objection was filed by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, riding the runner-up Bless Her, accusing Kentucky Belle of interference on the home stretch. However, stewards overruled the claim. Bless Her finished three-quarters of a length ahead of third-place Turner’s Charm, with Bohemian, Dakotah Blue, Charm of Venice, Time to Dream, Call On Me, and Embrace Time rounding out the field.
Favored going into the race, Kentucky Belle paid $9.75 on a $5 win bet, boosting her career earnings to $1,632,188 with a record of seven starts: four wins, one second, and two thirds.
Looking ahead, Walden pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on October 10 at Keeneland as a probable next step. “She’s been invited, and we’ll coordinate with Brad Cox. Since she’s fresh with only two races in six months, this could be a perfect opportunity for a 3-year-old filly. The Queen Elizabeth II is a logical target since it’s challenging to race 3-year-old fillies against older ones at the Breeders’ Cup,” he explained.
This article was first published by Paulick Report on September 10, 2026, under the News section. You can add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Fan Take: Kentucky Belle’s commanding performances highlight a new star in the filly division, promising thrilling matchups in upcoming elite turf races. For horse racing enthusiasts, her rise signals a fresh chapter of competition and excitement, which is vital for sustaining the sport’s long-term appeal.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
