Explora. (Benoit photo)
Explora earned a reimbursement berth for the $ 2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Santa Anita Press Box
Arcadia, Calif. making her two-part debut for trainer Bob Baffert, Discover Walked to her 2-5 chances when she runs to a victory of 4 ¼ length in Saturday class II, $ 200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association for 2-year-old mares who went 1 1/16 miles in Santa Anita. With the victory, Explora earned a reimbursement berth on the $ 2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on 31 October in Del Mar.
Driven by Juan Hernandez, Explora PaceSetter and Bob Baffert-Testraind Stablemate Himika (9-2) followed the rear while he raced three wide and in the clear. In the second turn, Himika and Jockey Mike Smith tried to track away from the field. Explora had other ideas. She kicked in gear, passed Himika when she went into the play and then extended her advantage to the thread for the breakthrough victory.
“She relaxed very well today and she improves a lot,” said Hernandez. “In the past she just wanted to break quickly and go to the lead. But today she learned to settle behind the pace and responded when I asked.”
Explora, who raced without blinking, won in a time of 1: 44.13 after fractions of 23.14, 46.98, 1: 11.56 and 1: 37.39. La Wally, the 7-2 second choice driven by Antonio Fresu and trained by Mark Glatt, finished second with 1 ¼ lengths about La Ville Lumierie (31-1). Himika eventually checked in fifth place.
Explora is the fault of the Bernardini Mare Collections Choice. She was bought for $ 350,000 during this year’s pasig-tipton Midlantic Sale by owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.
“On the quarterly pole I wondered if she was really relaxing or not ran, but we found out that she was relaxing,” said Baffert. “When it was time to go, she left. That was our plan today was to let her relax and not to go for the lead immediately.”
Explora won her debut to go 5 ½ Furlongs in Del Mar on August 17. She then returned to the Gi del Mar Debutante who went seven Furlongs where she went out of the 3-5 favorite. Explora set the pace that day and was good in the field of the field, but she was unable to close the late load of Stablemate-bottle Rouge to finish second.
Explora paid $ 2.80, $ 2.20 and $ 2.10. La Wally has returned $ 3.20 and $ 2.60. La Ville Lumiere, with Kazushi Kimura on board for trainer Michael McCarthy, paid $ 5.40.
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