BLAME looks to have another talented runner on his hands after Explora earned a Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’ title in her debut at Del Mar.
The 2-year-old filly trained by Bob Baffert for Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman kicked off her career racing over 5 ½ furlongs on the Del Mar dirt. After two straight bullets, Explora was ready to fly and showed it by breaking first out of the gate.
Going off as the favorite, she had to endure early pressure but left that rival behind going into the turn. Jockey Juan Hernandez looked to have all the confidence in the world in his mount when letting her do as she wanted before asking for just a little more in the final sixteenth.
That small amount of urging saw Explora pull away to win by 4 ¾ lengths when they hit the line.
Explora was a $350,000 2-year-old purchase in May by her racing connections after selling as a yearling for breeder Mesingw Farm.
This is the fifth winner from five to race out of the Bernardini mare Collections Choice, who is a daughter of stakes winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Model. Model is out of the 1000 Guineas (G1) runner-up Snowfire, who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Preseli, Group 3 winner Kong, and stakes winner Mount Kilimanjaro.
It has already been a big August for BLAME, who saw his daughters register a Grade 1 double the first weekend of the month before one of his colts sold for $475,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.