Rainbow Miss Stakes Recap 2026

Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho, Vice President of Marketing, cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 4201

Friday, April 3, 2026

Photo Credit: Coady Media
WALK AWAY KAYE - Rainbow Miss Stakes - 48th Running

For Immediate Release

Oaklawn Stakes Race Recap - $150,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes

Walk Away Kaye collared front-running Cuda Cutie on the outside in the final yards to win the $150,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes Friday afternoon at Oaklawn.

Ridden by Erik Asmussen, Walk Away Kaye overcame a troubled start to finish a half-length ahead of Cuda Cutie in the six-furlong race for accredited Arkansas-bred three-year-old fillies.

The Rainbow Miss marked the first career Oaklawn stakes victory for Texas-based trainer Danny Pish and his seventh victory at the 2025-2026 meeting, a single-season high in Hot Springs.

Cuda Cutie finished 4 ¼ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Rockin the Lane, who was followed, in order, by Pardon Me Z, Sisters in Town, Roseanne, Bossoftheblock, Redriver Storm, Mspunkinsperegrine and Caroom’s Croupier.

Cuda Cutie held a two-length lead in the midstretch, but she was unable to hold off 7-5 favorite Walk Away Kaye, who was eighth early after being squeezed at the start, Asmussen said. The winning time over a fast track was 1:12.74.

Walk Away Kaye paid $4.80, $2.60, and $2.20. Cuda Cutie paid $2.80 and $2.40. Rockin the Lane paid $4.40.

Walk Away Kaye races for her breeders, Van Buren, Ark.-based JRita Young Thoroughbreds of Everett “JR” Young and wife Rita.

Walk Away Kaye won her Nov. 15 career debut at Remington Park and has made her last four starts at Oaklawn.

Walk Away Kaye finished second to Counting Stars in the inaugural $135,000 Astral Spa Overnight Stakes Dec. 14, fourth in the $150,000 Mockingbird Stakes Jan. 4, and second in an entry-level allowance Feb. 28. All three races were 6 furlongs.

Counting Stars returned to win the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2) – Oaklawn’s biggest two-turn race for 3-year-old fillies – on March 27. The allowance race was Walk Away Kaye’s first in Arkansas-bred company.

A daughter of Honest Mischief, Walk Away Kaye won for the second time in five lifetime starts, raising her earnings to $159,004.

Friday’s estimated attendance was 3,200. Total mutuel handle was $5,071,904.

Racing resumes Saturday with 11 races, highlighted by the $150,000 Rainbow Stakes for accredited Arkansas-bred three-year-olds at six furlongs. First post is 12:45 p.m. (Central).

RAINBOW MISS QUOTES

WINNING JOCKEY ERIK ASMUSSEN (WALK AWAY KAYE): “Just super blessed for the opportunity to ride a really nice Arky-bred filly. Mr. (Danny) Pish has done a fantastic job with her. She does everything perfectly. She’s so straightforward. Three-quarters might be a touch short for her, but she’s just so talented that she’s good enough to win – and just more distance the better. Just super blessed for the opportunity to ride a very nice filly. I got squeezed away from there, pretty bad away from the gates. I left her more than I wanted her to do. Just tried to stay confident. I believed I was on the best horse in the race and she showed it.”

WINNING TRAINER DANNY PISH VIA PHONE (WALK AWAY KAYE): “I wanted the filly much closer, but she knew better than me. I’m a guy that’s a very blessed man. I’ve had a lot of luck in this game and Oaklawn, many, many times, has been an Achilles' heel for me. But I’m finally starting to get a little momentum over there and going to try to keep it.”