Second last out in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), BLAME’s Explora earned her first graded stakes success on Saturday with a win in the Oak Leaf S. (G2) at Santa Anita.
Looking to earn a “Win and You’re In” spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) if she won this 1 1/16-mile dirt race, it was no surprise to see the Bob Baffert trainee go off as favorite.
She stalked stablemate Himika through the early and middle stages of the race before easing closer with a quarter left to go. They engaged in a battle around the turn with Himika making sure Explora earned the win, but the BLAME daughter proved to be too good.
Taking full command at the top of the stretch, Explora was asked to stay focused throughout the run and romped home a 4 ¼ length winner as BLAME’s 53rd career stakes winner.
Now the winner of two of her three starts, Explora is owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, who purchased her for $350,000 in May.
This was one of two big winners for BLAME on the day with his broodmare sire legacy growing when granddaughter Simply In Front won the First Lady S. (G1) at Keeneland earlier in the day.
Mesingw Farm bred Explora out of Collections Choice after buying the mare carrying the filly the previous November.
Explora is a granddaughter of stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Model, whose own dam Snowfire was also Group 1 placed in the 1000 Guineas (G1). Snowfire is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Preseli, Group 3 winner Kong, and stakes winner Mount Kilimanjaro.
BLAME is the sire of five stakes winners and 12 stakes performers in 2025, led by Group 1 winner Sibayan.