From late summer 2025 through May 1, 2026, Explora was the one filly who consistently remained in the conversation as one of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) favorites. Now, with that 1 1/8-mile challenge behind her, the 3-year-old Blame filly has backed up to one-turn races and can call herself the favorite for the $500,000 Test Stakes (G1) Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
That honor as the 5-2 morning-line favorite is not simply due to her back class and Oaks-famed name, but also because the filly proved June 7 she could shorten up to the Test's 7-furlong distance with a smart front-running victory in the Leslie's Lady Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, the Kentucky Oaks was the lone out-of-exacta finish in her career. Still, she ran courageously after missing her final Oaks prep when scratching from the Fantasy Stakes (G2) with a fever. Setting the pace, she battled well to get beat only 2 1/2 lengths when fourth behind Always a Runner, Meaning, and Counting Stars—who all came back to verify that form with grade 1 wins or placings.
She showed she could still utilize her speed in sprints in the Leslie's Lady, and now she attempts to finally grab her elusive top-level victory.
Hat Creek Racing's Percy's Bar is the only grade 1 winner in the eight-horse field. Starting in the Test would mark her first start around one turn since finishing second in Saratoga's Spinaway Stakes (G1) last summer. Sitting at 8-1 on the Test's morning line, trainer Ben Colebrook did cross-enter her Aug. 9 at Ellis Park in the Audubon Oaks. Legion Racing, MHM Stables, Ed Stefanski, and William Conlin's Carmel Coast is also cross-entered to that spot.
The other five all make their grade 1 debuts Saturday. Albaugh Family Stables' On Time Girl holds the highest credentials among them as a dual graded winner this year, and she sits a co-second choice at 7-2 with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. scheduled for the saddle.
The Not This Time filly was beaten 1 1/4 lengths as the odds-on favorite when facing Explora in the Leslie's Lady. She rated in third early and made a run at Explora in the stretch, but her rival had too much left in the tank. Seeing several entrants that possess early speed, trainer Brad Cox is hopeful the Test will set up more in her favor.
"I think a good setup is important. I think she could get it," Cox said. "I feel like, on paper, there's a good bit of speed in there. I think she needs to lay close, but track. Irad obviously knows her very well, he's had a lot of success on her. I think it comes down to getting a good trip. She's very honest and always tries hard. I think we're going to get a good effort out of her, it's just about getting a good trip because it's a very solid group."
Less accomplished but maybe just as threatening to Explora could be WinStar Farm homebred Movie Night, who breaks from the rail with Jose Ortiz in the saddle for the first time. Like On Time Girl, she is listed at 7-2.
The Speightstown filly debuted with a runner-up finish to Test rival Where Luck Lives at Keeneland in April. She then followed with two victories by a combined 13 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs in the maiden and allowance ranks. With no upcoming allowance conditions that fit the well-bred filly, who is a half to grade 3 winner Stellify, trainer Will Walden decided to take a shot in the Test.
"She's a super talented filly, really well bred. Everything just comes easy to her," Walden said. "We went through the allowance condition afforded to her, and now she's going to have to step up. But her numbers suggest she fits right in there with the rest of them."
Where Luck Lives could be part of the early pace for Flying Dutchmen and trainer Brian Lynch. After that gate-to-wire victory at Keeneland, she returned a 5 1/4-length winner in the same style May 28 at Churchill Downs over 6 furlongs.
Saratoga's local prep for the Test, the July 10 Victory Ride Stakes (G3), sees its top two finishers return Saturday. Randall Bloch, Six Column Stables, Mike Davis, and Gene Rice's Sippin Pretty pulled the 26-1 upset for Ian Wilkes that day with Spendthrift Farm's Goodall, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, 1 1/4 lengths behind as the favorite. They return at odds of 6-1 and 5-1, respectively.
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 8, 2026, Race 9Entries: Test S. Presented by Ticketmaster (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Movie Night (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 William Walden 7/2 2 2Percy's Bar (KY) Manuel Franco 122 Ben Colebrook 8/1 3 3Sippin Pretty (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 122 Ian R. Wilkes 6/1 4 4Where Luck Lives (KY) Luis Saez 122 Brian A. Lynch 12/1 5 5Goodall (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Steven M. Asmussen 5/1 6 6On Time Girl (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Brad H. Cox 7/2 7 7Explora (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Bob Baffert 5/2 8 8Carmel Coast (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 D. Whitworth Beckman 15/1
