ARCADIA, Calif. - Explora began her 3-year-old season with a cushy win in Saturday’s $98,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita, showing the form that left her among the top 2-year-old fillies of 2025.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez for trainer Bob Baffert, Explora closed from last in a small field of four to win by a commanding 5 1/4 lengths. She paid a mere $2.10 and ran seven furlongs in 1:22.05. Explora earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85.
“Bob told me she was feeling good and he was right,” Hernandez said. “She won very easily.”
Explora started from the outside post in the quartet and trailed 8-1 La Wally and 13-1 Himika, who dueled through an early pace of 22.30 seconds for the opening quarter-mile. Himika led through a half-mile in 44.21.
Hernandez guided Explora into a four-wide position on the turn. The filly responded with a strong move to reach the front with more than a furlong remaining.
“I thought they were going a little quick,” Hernandez said. “I was waiting for the quarter-pole to make my move.”
La Wally held second, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of 16-1 Revera. Himika faded to finish last, beaten 7 1/4 lengths.
Baffert trains Himika, a two-time stakes winner in 2025. He also entered Bottle of Rouge, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last September who was withdrawn from the Santa Ynez on Saturday morning. Baffert did not state an immediate race goal for Bottle of Rouge later on Saturday.
Explora, by Blame, has won 3 of 5 starts for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.
Purchased for $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton mid-Atlantic sale of 2-year-olds in-training last May, Explora was second in the Del Mar Debutante, won the Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 4, and was second by three-quarters of a length as the 3-2 favorite to Super Corredora in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31, her final start of 2025.
Baffert said after Saturday’s race that Explora will race around two turns later this winter and has the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 1 as a long-range goal.
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