Explora. (Benoit Photo)
Explora earned a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Making her two-turn debut for trainer Bob Baffert, Explora ran to her 2-5 odds when romping to a 4 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. With the win, Explora earned a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31 at Del Mar.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Explora tracked pacesetter and Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Himika (9-2) down the backstretch while racing three-wide and in the clear. On the second turn, Himika and jockey Mike Smith tried to spurt away from the field. Explora had other ideas. She kicked into gear, passed Himika when heading into the stretch and then extended her advantage to the wire for the breakthrough victory.
“She relaxed really good today and she’s improving a lot,” Hernandez said. “Before, she just wanted to break fast and go to the lead. But today she learned how to settle behind the pace and then responded when I asked.”
Explora, who was racing without blinkers for the first time, won in a time of 1:44.13 following fractions of 23.14, 46.98, 1:11.56 and 1:37.39. La Wally, the 7-2 second choice ridden by Antonio Fresu and trained by Mark Glatt, finished second by 1 ¼ lengths over La Ville Lumierie (31-1). Himika ultimately checked in fifth.
Explora is by Blame out of the Bernardini mare Collections Choice. She was purchased for $350,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale by owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.
“At the quarter pole, I was wondering if she was really relaxing or not running, but we found out she was relaxing,” Baffert said. “When it was time to go, she took off. That was our plan today was to get her to relax and not go for the lead right away.”
Explora won her debut going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 17. She then returned in the GI Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs where she went off the 3-5 favorite. Explora set the pace that day and was well-clear of the field in the stretch, but she was unable to hold off the late charge of stablemate Bottle of Rouge to finish second by a length.
Explora paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. La Wally retuned $3.20 and $2.60. La Ville Lumiere, with Kazushi Kimura aboard for trainer Michael McCarthy, paid $5.40.
