Her 3-year-old debut may have been delayed a week by rain, but that did not stop Explora from proving herself a legitimate contender for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) as she played with her three rivals Jan. 10 in the $98,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
The Blame filly's reputation preceded her at the wagering windows, and when her Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Bottle of Rouge—who beat Explora in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) last summer—was scratched, it left Explora as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite.
Winner of the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in October, Explora was exiting a strong runner-up finish by three-quarters of a length to Super Corredora in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar—a finish Baffert told Santa Anita's Zoe Cadman he had been disappointed by.
"The filly that won (Super Corredora), she couldn't run her down," Baffert said. "You're always disappointed when you run second, we like to win."
The Hall of Famer was certainly not disappointed by Explora's performance Saturday. Left last of four early as Baffert-trained Himika set a quick pace of :22.30 and :44.21 while receiving pressure from La Wally, jockey Juan Hernandez bided his time aboard Explora before launching a move approaching the quarter pole. At the top of lane, she easily coasted to the lead and drew off to a 5 1/4-length victory with Hernandez standing in the saddle at the wire. Completing 7 furlongs in 1:22.05, she paid $2.10 to win.
"She started lugging in a little bit around the turn and I felt the pace was really quick," Hernandez told Santa Anita publicity. "She was traveling well and was waiting for the quarter pole to start making her move. She is a really smart filly. Bob told me that she was doing and feeling really good. He was right about it because she went really easy today."
La Wally, runner-up in the Oak Leaf and last seen finishing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, battled gamely for second, and stakes winner Revera finished third.
"Down the backside it looked like maybe she was not running. I think they were just going really fast," Baffert said in the winner's circle after winning a record-extending eighth Santa Ynez. "All of a sudden when (Hernandez) got her geared up, you could see her taking off. ... It's good to see her back in form."
As part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, all four finishers received qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2 scale. The 1 point offered to fifth place was not awarded after the scratch of Bottle of Rouge. With the 10 points for her win, Explora now moves into first place on the Oaks leaderboard with 35 points.
Bred in Kentucky by Mesingw Farm out of the winning Bernardini mare Collections Choice, Explora was initially sold for $22,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale before being pinhooked for $350,000 at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale where she was bought by Three Amigos—owners Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. With a record of 3-2-0 from five starts and two stakes triumphs, Explora has now earned $628,000.
