In recent decades, the New Orleans road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) has been a strong predictor of success at Churchill Downs, most recently producing 2025 Oaks victress Good Cheer, who remained unbeaten through her path to the lilies. This year, another unbeaten filly has just begun 2026 with an early stepping stone on the Lily Lane. Taken by the Wind, whose name comes from the lyrics of the Fleetwood Mac song “Rhiannon,” set the pace all the way in the Silverbulletday Stakes at the Fair Grounds and dug in gamely in the stretch to claim both the lioness’s share of the purse and the 20 points toward an Oaks starting berth.
Adding in the 10 points she earned for winning the Pocahontas Stakes (USA-G3) last fall, Taken by the Wind is now tied for second in the Oaks standings with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1) winner Super Corredora at 30 points, five behind current leader Explora. Luv Your Neighbor, a last-out second in the Untapable Stakes over the same track and distance (a mile and 70 yards) on December 20, climbed to fifth on the Oaks leaderboard with her second-place finish, bringing her total Oaks points to 15.
Bred in Florida by Courtney Meagher, Taken by the Wind is one of two stakes winners from the first crop of he Candy Ride horse Rock Your World. The winner of the 2021 RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1), Rock Your World was produced from the Grade 1-placed stakes winner Charm the Maker (by Empire Maker), who belongs to a solid family descended from the mid-twentieth-century Irish import Albany Isle.
On the distaff side, Taken by the Wind is a member of American Family 5. This line was quite prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but last produced a top-level winner when Afleet Express won the 2010 Travers Stakes. The connecting link between his tail-female line and that of Taken by the Wind is Thora, a foal of 1878 who is generally considered to be the American champion older female of 1882. Thora produced two-time American champion filly Yorkville Belle, and it is through Yorkville Belle that Taken by the Wind’s line descends.
Bubble, a granddaughter of Yorkville Belle, produced 1928 Alabama Stakes winner Nixie (by Peter Pan) and her unraced full sister Champagne. From there, the next point of interest in the line is Champagne’s granddaughter Iseult (by Sir Gallahad III), who won the 1933 Acorn Stakes and produced 1937 Spinaway Stakes winner Merry Lassie (by Stimulus), one of the best juvenile fillies of her year. Iseult also produced juvenile stakes winner Navigating (by Hard Tack), dam of 1961 American champion handicap female Airmans Guide (by One Count), and the winning Snark filly Arrogance, dam of juvenile stakes winner Snooty (by Better Self).
Sister Snob, Snooty’s half sister by Mr. Busher, had no reason to be snobbish about her racing performance; she won only twice from 33 starts. Her daughter Holly-O. (by Victory Morn) was much better, taking the 1966 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the 1967 Barbara Fritchie Handicap. A half sister to juvenile stakes winner Lightning Lark (by Petare), Holly-O. In turn produced 1975 Fantasy Stakes (USA-G2) winner Hoso (by Solo Landing), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Raise a Prospector (by Mr. Prospector).
Hoso’s best producing daughter was Raise a Prospector’s full sister Love from Mom, who produced 1998 San Vicente Stakes (USA-G2) winner Sea of Secrets (by Storm Cat), 1998 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (USA-G3) winner Love That Jazz (by Dixieland Band), 1995 Broward Handicap (USA-G3) winner Fight for Love (by Fit to Fight), and 1992 Board of Governors’ Handicap (USA-G3) winner Dancing Jon (by Gate Dancer). She also produced Love Always (by Saint Ballado), who was unplaced in three starts but produced the winner Up for Grabs (by First Samurai). A US$3,000 purchase for Meagher from the 2013 Ocala Breeders’ Sales fall mixed sale, she is now the dam of Taken by the Wind—her fifth winner and second black-type runner, following stakes-placed Running Memories—as her eighth foal. The mare’s most recent produce is an unnamed juvenile colt by Global Campaign. She is awaiting a 2026 foal by Champions Dream and will visit Mullikins afterward.
On speed figures, Taken by the Wind is well behind both Explora and Super Corredora at this stage of her development. Fillies can develop very rapidly in the spring, though, and she is in the hands of Kenny McPeek, a trainer who certainly knows how to get a filly ready for the “Lilies for the Fillies.” If she isn’t in the class of McPeek’s 2024 Oaks winner, Thorpedo Anna, Taken by the Wind still hasn’t met the filly that can beat her yet, and the determination she showed in winning the Silverbulletday should stand her in good stead as she continues along the Lily Lane.
Adding in the 10 points she earned for winning the Pocahontas Stakes (USA-G3) last fall, Taken by the Wind is now tied for second in the Oaks standings with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1) winner Super Corredora at 30 points, five behind current leader Explora. Luv Your Neighbor, a last-out second in the Untapable Stakes over the same track and distance (a mile and 70 yards) on December 20, climbed to fifth on the Oaks leaderboard with her second-place finish, bringing her total Oaks points to 15.
Bred in Florida by Courtney Meagher, Taken by the Wind is one of two stakes winners from the first crop of he Candy Ride horse Rock Your World. The winner of the 2021 RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1), Rock Your World was produced from the Grade 1-placed stakes winner Charm the Maker (by Empire Maker), who belongs to a solid family descended from the mid-twentieth-century Irish import Albany Isle.
On the distaff side, Taken by the Wind is a member of American Family 5. This line was quite prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but last produced a top-level winner when Afleet Express won the 2010 Travers Stakes. The connecting link between his tail-female line and that of Taken by the Wind is Thora, a foal of 1878 who is generally considered to be the American champion older female of 1882. Thora produced two-time American champion filly Yorkville Belle, and it is through Yorkville Belle that Taken by the Wind’s line descends.
Bubble, a granddaughter of Yorkville Belle, produced 1928 Alabama Stakes winner Nixie (by Peter Pan) and her unraced full sister Champagne. From there, the next point of interest in the line is Champagne’s granddaughter Iseult (by Sir Gallahad III), who won the 1933 Acorn Stakes and produced 1937 Spinaway Stakes winner Merry Lassie (by Stimulus), one of the best juvenile fillies of her year. Iseult also produced juvenile stakes winner Navigating (by Hard Tack), dam of 1961 American champion handicap female Airmans Guide (by One Count), and the winning Snark filly Arrogance, dam of juvenile stakes winner Snooty (by Better Self).
Sister Snob, Snooty’s half sister by Mr. Busher, had no reason to be snobbish about her racing performance; she won only twice from 33 starts. Her daughter Holly-O. (by Victory Morn) was much better, taking the 1966 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the 1967 Barbara Fritchie Handicap. A half sister to juvenile stakes winner Lightning Lark (by Petare), Holly-O. In turn produced 1975 Fantasy Stakes (USA-G2) winner Hoso (by Solo Landing), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Raise a Prospector (by Mr. Prospector).
Hoso’s best producing daughter was Raise a Prospector’s full sister Love from Mom, who produced 1998 San Vicente Stakes (USA-G2) winner Sea of Secrets (by Storm Cat), 1998 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (USA-G3) winner Love That Jazz (by Dixieland Band), 1995 Broward Handicap (USA-G3) winner Fight for Love (by Fit to Fight), and 1992 Board of Governors’ Handicap (USA-G3) winner Dancing Jon (by Gate Dancer). She also produced Love Always (by Saint Ballado), who was unplaced in three starts but produced the winner Up for Grabs (by First Samurai). A US$3,000 purchase for Meagher from the 2013 Ocala Breeders’ Sales fall mixed sale, she is now the dam of Taken by the Wind—her fifth winner and second black-type runner, following stakes-placed Running Memories—as her eighth foal. The mare’s most recent produce is an unnamed juvenile colt by Global Campaign. She is awaiting a 2026 foal by Champions Dream and will visit Mullikins afterward.
On speed figures, Taken by the Wind is well behind both Explora and Super Corredora at this stage of her development. Fillies can develop very rapidly in the spring, though, and she is in the hands of Kenny McPeek, a trainer who certainly knows how to get a filly ready for the “Lilies for the Fillies.” If she isn’t in the class of McPeek’s 2024 Oaks winner, Thorpedo Anna, Taken by the Wind still hasn’t met the filly that can beat her yet, and the determination she showed in winning the Silverbulletday should stand her in good stead as she continues along the Lily Lane.
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