The 2026 Pocahontas Stakes takes place Saturday, September 12, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The Grade III race is contested at 1 mile on dirt for 2-year-old fillies and carries a $300,000 purse. The Pocahontas Stakes opens the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, awarding qualifying points to the top five eligible finishers.
| Date | Saturday, September 12, 2026 |
| Track | Churchill Downs |
| Race | Race 8 |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Grade | Grade III |
| Purse | $300,000 |
| Age | 2-year-old fillies |
| Kentucky Oaks Points | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Post Time | 4:26 PM ET |
Entry Update: The 2026 Pocahontas Stakes field is confirmed with nine starters. Post positions, jockeys, trainers, and official morning-line odds are listed in the odds table below.
| 1 | Pierette (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | Mark E. Casse | 9/2 |
| 2 | Manuka Honey (KY) | Luis Saez | Brian A. Lynch | 9/5 |
| 3 | Stripe Show (KY) | Jaime A. Torres | John C. Servis | 12/1 |
| 4 | Sweet Kathleen (KY) | Chris A. Emigh | Brittany A. Vanden Berg | 30/1 |
| 5 | Betty Sue (PA) | Assael Espinoza | Reed C. Bryner | 12/1 |
| 6 | Scarlett Begonia (KY) | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | 4/1 |
| 7 | Miss Anna (KY) | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | 7/2 |
| 8 | For the Win (KY) | Axel Concepcion | George Weaver | 15/1 |
| 9 | Tahaluf (KY) | Declan Sheehy | Andrew McKeever | 15/1 |
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The Pocahontas Stakes launches the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and gives 2-year-old fillies their first opportunity of the season to earn qualifying points at Churchill Downs. The 2026 race awards Oaks points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five eligible finishers and also participates in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series for the Juvenile Fillies division.
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The Pocahontas Stakes is one of Churchill Downs' key juvenile filly races and has become the opening points race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Past winners have included fillies who went on to compete at the highest level of their division. Recent winners include Taken by the Wind in 2025, La Cara in 2024, and V V's Dream in 2023.
Taken by the Wind won the 2025 Pocahontas Stakes for trainer Kenneth McPeek and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., completing the mile in 1:36.50.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Gimme a Nother (SAF) | Juan J. Hernandez | 1:48.55 |
| 2024 | Hang the Moon | Kazushi Kimura | 1:48.50 |
| 2023 | Closing Remarks | Umberto Rispoli | 1:48.23 |
| 2022 | Avenue de France (FR) | Juan J. Hernandez | 1:47.96 |
| 2021 | Going to Vegas | Umberto Rispoli | 1:48.30 |
The 2026 Pocahontas Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It is Race 8 with a post time of 4:26 PM ET.
The Pocahontas Stakes is contested at 1 mile on dirt at Churchill Downs.
The 2026 Pocahontas Stakes carries a $300,000 purse.
The Pocahontas Stakes is restricted to 2-year-old fillies.
Yes. The confirmed 2026 Pocahontas Stakes field has nine starters: Pierette, Manuka Honey, Stripe Show, Sweet Kathleen, Betty Sue, Scarlett Begonia, Miss Anna, For the Win and Tahaluf.
Manuka Honey is the morning-line favorite for the 2026 Pocahontas Stakes.
The latest 2026 Pocahontas Stakes odds are listed in the odds table above and will be updated as race-day prices change.
The Pocahontas Stakes is a Grade III dirt race for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs. It is the opening qualifying race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
The Pocahontas Stakes is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The top five eligible finishers in the 2026 Pocahontas Stakes earn Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
No. The Pocahontas Stakes is not a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" race. It is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series for the Juvenile Fillies division.
You can bet online at BUSR. Create an account, fund your account, and select Churchill Downs and the Pocahontas Stakes from the available racing markets. BUSR also offers a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
Taken by the Wind won the 2025 Pocahontas Stakes for trainer Kenneth McPeek and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., completing the mile in 1:36.50.
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