Already a grade 2 winner as a juvenile, Explora will attempt to safe a win at that degree at 3 whereas taking a giant step towards the Kentucky Oaks (G1) when she faces an anticipated 5 different 3-year-old fillies within the $1 million Fantasy Stakes March 27 at Oaklawn Park.
Constant on the highest ranges from the beginning, Explora enters Friday’s 1 1/16-mile tilt off a three-quarter-length victory within the Honeybee Stakes (G3) March 1 at Oaklawn. The Fantasy begin can be the daughter of Blame ‘s second begin this month on the Sizzling Springs, Ark., monitor as she goals to enter the Kentucky Oaks on a roll.
The Fantasy presents 200 qualifying factors towards the Kentucky Oaks on a 100-50-25-15-10 schedule ought to the race be oversubscribed.
Campaigned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman and skilled by Bob Baffert, Explora has completed first or second in all seven of her races. That features a victory in final yr’s Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park in addition to runner-up finishes to stablemate Bottle of Rouge within the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) and to Tremendous Corredora within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Baffert has captured two earlier editions of the Fantasy, profitable with Mamma Kimbo in 2012 and with Wonderful Assembly in 1999. Wonderful Assembly went on to complete fifth within the Kentucky Derby (G1) in her subsequent begin.Join BloodHorse Each day
In Mark Casse stablemates Counting Stars and Search Celebration , Explora will face a pair of acquainted fillies who every personal no less than one stakes win at Oaklawn. West Level Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars rallied from seventh to complete second within the Honeybee whereas Tracy Farmer homebred Search Celebration completed fourth in that check.
Search Celebration, a daughter of Gun Runner , opened her 3-year-old marketing campaign with a victory within the Martha Washington Stakes in February at Oaklawn whereas Counting Stars, a daughter of Honor A. P. , closed her juvenile marketing campaign in Sizzling Springs with wins within the Astral Spa In a single day and 12 months’s Finish stakes.
Gary and Mary West homebred Sticker Shock will strive stakes firm off a transparent victory in an allowance-optional claiming race final month at Oaklawn.
Haulin Ice Connections Hope for Matron Stakes Repeat
A yr in the past Haulin Ice defeated different Arkansas-bred fillies and mares within the Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes by 6 lengths earlier than delivering a front-end, 5-length rating within the Matron Stakes, open to older fillies and mares.
Picture: Coady Media/Robi HeffingtonHaulin Ice repeats within the 2026 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes at Oaklawn
This yr Haulin Ice repeated within the Downthedustryroad by a margin greater than double final yr’s and can now goal a second straight win within the Matron. The 5-year-old Coal Entrance mare is skilled by Saffie Joseph Jr. for house owners C2 Racing Secure, WSS Racing, and Agave Racing Secure.
Entries: Matron S.Oaklawn Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, Race 9STK6fDirt $250,0004 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares4:48 PM (native)
Entries: Fantasy S. (G2)Oaklawn Park, Friday, March 27, 2026, Race 11Grade II1 1/16mDirt $1,000,0003 yo Fillies5:54 PM (native)
