BLAME’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up Explora added a third stakes victory to her record on Sunday with a victory in the Honeybee S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Making her first start outside of California, BLAME’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopeful went off as the even-money favorite in the 1 1/16-mile dirt race for trainer Bob Baffert. She kept the leader honest when pushing that one around the track during the early and middle stages.
The battle began in the far turn when she engaged that one in battle to take command by the time they hit the stretch. She looked like she would have an easy run to the wire when she opened up a few lengths approaching the wire, but another runner came after her late. Counting Stars cut the lead down to three quarters of a length at the end, but Explora was able to register her fourth win in seven starts.
Never finishing worse than second, Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman’s Grade 2 winner broke the $1 million mark here with $1,064,250 in earnings.
They purchased her for $350,000 last May at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale in a move that has paid off well. Bred by Mesingw Farm, is one of five winners out of Collections Choice.
A winning mare herself, Collections Choice is one of four winners from six runners out of the stakes winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Model.
This family also includes Grade 1 winners Preseli, La Crique, Valley of Gold, and Dai Jin.
BLAME has kicked off the year in a big way with stakes winners and outstanding sales results to continue to prove to be an exceptional value sire year in and year out.