Bourbonette Oaks GIII
$300.000 For Fillies Three Years Old
1 1/16 Miles – Dirt
Turfway Park – March 21, 2026
It is getting down to the wire for owners to get their prized three-year-olds into their respective classics at Churchill Downs in six weeks’ time. In the Bourbonette Stakes we have a field of ten fillies from eight barns scheduled to line up and fight it out for the winner’s share of the $300.000 and the 50 Oaks qualifying points that would go to whoever has their nose in front when they take the photo. Six weeks and seven qualifying races left. It’s getting serious. Let’s see who will have sweaty palms come post time.
1. Whirlwind Spirit (Acber Farms/G. Corrales) Her last two races have also been attempts to amass some KYO points. She is less than a length away from coming away the winner in both so she is right there. She has been first or second in five of her six starts so count on her to come ready to run. Currently thirty-sixth in Oaks qualifying with 12 points.
2. Bubble Bath (Maxmillion Farms/S. Elliott) Other than finishing eighth place in her debut she has been consistently competitive in all of her starts including two FL bred stakes races. She comes out of a nice off the pace win in an overnight at Santa Anita but is taking a step up here and making her open stakes and graded stakes debut.
3. Balance The Budget (Rock Creek/P. Husbands) Like Whirlwind Spirit on the rail she has not missed winning her last two KYO qualifying races by much. She lost both races by less than a length and while she picked up points in both she would like to see a first on her past performance line after this race. It’s a tough group as you would expect considering the prize. Currently thirty-fifth in Oaks qualifying standings with 13 points.
4. Lucky Delite (The Sidley Stud/Ar. Bocachica) Has not crossed the wire first since her allowance win last August but she has run in seven straight stakes races and admirably hit the board in four while cashing checks in six of them. It’s an admirable record but needs something to take that next step and win one. Maybe the extra little bit of distance in this one will help her. Currently twelfth in Oaks qualifying standings with 27 points.
5. Perfect Thinking (Mb Stables/R.M. Hernandez) The first entry from Mb Stables is a very consistent filly being given a shot here. She broke her maiden after a series of close near misses and was immediately tested in the Untapable last December where took a step back finishing ninth. She has regrouped since and comes in off of an overnight win at Sam Houston. Reunites with the jockey who guided her to her maiden win but needs to show she can hang with these but might be the lone speed and dangerous that way.
6. Eaton (Royalty Stables/L. Machado) Royalty homebred is making only her fourth start and is picking a very tough spot to make her stakes debut. Has won once in her three races. Works don’t jump off the page, but the barn is no stranger to success in big races so they must see something that makes them want to take a shot.
7. Cailleach (Jerry Garcia Racing/F. Geroux) In just six career starts she has gone from being available to claim to being on the verge of getting into the Oaks field with two straight stellar performances in qualifying races. She is coming into this race with a third in the Silverbulletday followed by her first stakes win in the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes. She has been successfully battling with many in this group and in just two races since mid-January she has announced herself as a legitimate threat. Currently fourteenth in Oaks qualifying standings with 26 points.
8. Bunny Connection (Nakamura Stables/A.R. Rodriguez) Has gone to the gate four times and came home the winner in her first three including an impressive seven length win on debut. She went into her stakes debut as the favorite and acquitted herself well with a fast closing third in the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes a length behind winner Cailleach who is to her inside here. She gets an extra sixteenth of a mile to close into here which would seem to suit her running style Currently fifty-third in Oaks qualifying standings with 6 points.
9. Pineapple Puff (Nakamura Stables/A.A. Gallardo) The second entry from Nakamura Stables starts right outside of her stablemate and is the more seasoned and accomplished of the two. She is a multiple stakes winner and graded placed. She is coming off of a rebound win in the Busher following a disappointing tenth at Oaklawn Park in the Martha Washington. Chalk that up to not liking that track which happens. Will take some beating. Currently fourth in Oaks qualifying standings with 55 points.
10. Cross Stitch (Mb Stables/J. Lezcano) The second Mb Stables filly draws the outside post and takes another swing at the Oaks pinata after her sixth-place finish in the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes. She finished behind a couple of her rivals here in an even effort where she didn’t present herself as a serious threat at any point of the race. The fact that she is here says maybe she has more than she showed that day.
Like sands through the hourglass… time is running out on those Oaks dreams so who will leave Turfway Park smiling on Saturday? I am going to go with a Nakamura 1-2 with Bunny Connection besting her barn-mate Pineapple Puff. Completing the top four put Cailleach and Balance That Budget right behind them.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES