

liveUpdated 2h agoAlways a Runner surged late to win the 152nd running of the “Run for the Lilies” ahead of tomorrow’s Kentucky DerbyThe Athletic Live Team and moreMay 1, 2026 at 9:53 PM EDTAlways a Runner won the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks Getty ImagesAlways a Runner wins 2026 Kentucky OaksAlways a Runner has won the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, as the race was run in prime time for the first time. Meaning finished second, followed by Counting Stars.Explora took the early lead and gave way to Dazzling Dame on the backstretch before Explora regained the lead on the turn and led coming down the frontstretch.But Meaning challenged Explora before Always a Runner came down the outside for the win. Jockey Jose L. Ortiz earned his fifth win of the day, while trainer Chad C. Brown earned his first Kentucky Oaks win.Share your views and predictions for tomorrow's Kentucky Derby with us at live@theathletic.com.How history informs the Kentucky Derby Through the years, the Kentucky Derby has become a race of analytics and statistics as each horse is hyper-analyzed with bettors attempting to gain any possible advantage in finding value. The question becomes: What factors
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