Undefeated Zany Headlines Field of Seven for Friday’s Opening-Day Central Bank Ashland

By Amy Owens —-

Undefeated Zany Headlines Field of Seven
for Friday’s Opening-Day Central Bank Ashland

LEXINGTON, KY (March 30, 2026) – Repole Stable’s undefeated Zany headlines a field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered Monday for Friday’s 89th running of the $750,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1).

The Central Bank Ashland, the first Grade 1 test of the year for 3-year-old fillies, offers 200 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks on a 100-50-25-15-10 sliding scale for the first- through fifth-place finishers. The Oaks, to be run May 1 at Churchill Downs, is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box.

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Central Bank Ashland is carded as the ninth race on Friday’s 10-race Spring Meet-opening program. First post is 1 p.m. ET with the Central Bank Ashland scheduled for 5:16 p.m.

Trained by three-time Central Bank Ashland winner Todd Pletcher, Zany won the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct to close her 2025 campaign and then opened 2026 with a victory in the Suncoast (L) at Tampa Bay Downs. Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for those victories and has the mount Friday from post 3.

Pletcher’s Central Bank Ashland winners are Malathaat (2021), Nest (2022) and Leslie’s Rose (2024). Ortiz was aboard for the latter two victories.

The main rival to Zany figures to be Hat Creek Racing’s Percy’s Bar.

Trained by Ben Colebrook, Percy’s Bar will be making her 2026 debut after finishing third in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar.

Runner-up in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga and disqualified from a victory in the Darley Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland, Percy’s Bar will be ridden by Luan Machado from post 2.

La Cara won the 2025 Central Bank Ashland for trainer Mark Casse, who will be seeking a second victory in the race with D. J. Stable’s undefeated French Friction. Cristian Torres retains the mount from post 4.

Another trainer seeking a second victory in the race is Bill Mott, who will send out George Krikorian’s maiden winner Star Actress. Junior Alvarado has the mount from post 7.

Field for the 89th Running of the $750,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), 3-year-old fillies
1 1/16 miles * Weight: 121 lbs. * Race 9 * Post time: 5:16 p.m. ET

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Since its first race meet 90 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts five on-site sales a year, in January, April, September and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. On Oct. 30-31, Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the fourth time, following 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.

For more information email Keeneland Communications Associate Amy Owens at aowens@keeneland.com.