Explora dominates the Test, NYRA Photo
Brian Bohl
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Explora continued to display her talents as a sprinter, taking command at the top of the stretch before drawing away for a leave-no-doubt five-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course.
Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s graded stakes-winning millionaire Explora dominated in the 101st edition of the Test to secure her first top-flight win in the seven-furlong sprint, allowing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert to notch his fourth Test victory and first since Gamine in 2020.
Explora entered her New York debut with momentum. Following a fourth-place effort in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, Baffert cut her back to the Test distance in the Listed Leslie’s Lady on June 7 at Churchill Downs, where she posted a 1 1/4-length win.
After shipping to the Spa, Explora looked comfortable early, breaking from post 7 and tracking in third position under jockey Flavien Prat. Pacesetter Movie Night led the eight-horse field through fractions of 22.51 seconds for the opening quarter mile with the half-mile in 45.08 on the fast man track.
Out of the turn, Explora overtook Movie Night and Goodall and then opened up before thundering home, completing the course in a 1:22.42 final time.
Percy’s Bar, a Grade 1 winner, finished 1 3/4-lengths clear of Goodall for second, with Sippin Pretty running fourth. On Time Girl, Movie Night, Carmel Coast and Where Luck Lives completed the order of finish.
As the 9-5 favorite, Explora returned $5.74 on a $2 win wager. The Blame dark bay improved her bankroll to $1.53 million and is 6-3-0 in 10 starts. The versatile sophomore won going 1 1/16-miles in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf in October at Santa Anita Park the Grade 3 Honeybee in March at Oaklawn Park before finding similar success in sprints.
“I think the draw was very helpful for me,” Prat said. “She did everything right. I thought she ran very well in the Kentucky Oaks. If you look at the replay, at the eighth pole she was still on the lead. [Today] she went back to what she wants to do. She jumped well and I wanted to get her involved, and she switched off nicely.
“On her own, she kind of got going around the tur,” Prat added. “At that point, I didn’t want to move too early. I was trying to hold her together. When I turned for home I asked her, and she responded very well.”
Baffert said Explora wasn’t on her best behavior in the paddock, but the $350,000 purchase from the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale once again showed up when it mattered.
“Actually, she was losing it a little bit,” Baffert said. “I didn’t get a chance to school her here and she can be on her toes, and she was getting a little bit warm, but luckily, once we hosed her down, then she settled back down. Got quiet. I told Prat, ‘she’s already warmed up, just go to the gate now.’ She’s been phenomenal…good mare, the best clients, great jockey, perfect trip, perfect post, finally didn’t have the one hole.”
Baffert said that Explora, bred in Kentucky by Mesingw Farm, remains on target for a start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in October at Keeneland.
Percy’s Bar, trained by Ben Colebrook, moved to 3-3-1 in nine career starts and added to her millionaire status with the runner-up effort. Her impressive 2026 campaign includes a 2 1/4-length win in the Grade 1 Ashland in April at Keeneland that marked her seasonal debut after a third-place finish behind runner-up Explora in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on October 31 at Del Mar.
“She’s a filly who always tries and is always there on the big stage,” said Manny Franco, the rider aboard Percy’s Bar. “I thought we ran second best today. She’s a Grade 1 filly and one of the best in the division. I’m just happy to do well with her. I think the seven furlongs, cutting back, was the right decision. She seemed like she wanted to run with pace in front and come running late.”
Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with an 11-race card, featuring the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy for 3-year-olds and up sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
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