Explora remains one to beat in rescheduled Santa Ynez

Jan 08, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Explora wins the Oak Leaf at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Postponed one week by a deluge of rain in Southern California, the $100,000 Santa Ynez S. is now on tap for this Saturday at Santa Anita. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up Explora still tops the redrawn field of five, but there are two notable changes.

One change involves her opposition. Fellow Bob Baffert trainee Bottle of Rouge has joined the party, while a stablemate in the original field, Toaster, did not re-enter.

Post positions have also changed. Explora is tactically drawn on the outside in post 5. But the John Sadler-trained Revera could be the biggest beneficiary of the rescheduling, where she has drawn better in post 3. Himika, yet another Baffert contender, may have fared worse by landing on the rail this time.

In any event, with only five entrants, all who complete the course will pick up points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on the 10-5-3-2-1 scale.

Baffert holds a strong hand with his trio as he bids for an eighth win in the Santa Ynez.

Explora displayed budding star quality when romping in her Del Mar debut and in the Oak Leaf (G2) at Santa Anita. But in between, she was upset by stablemate Bottle of Rouge going this seven-furlong trip in the Del Mar Debutante (G1). Explora also settled for second when last seen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she could not peg back front-running Super Corredora.

California dreamin’ 🌴 Explora romps in the Oak Leaf Stakes and punches her ticket to the @NetJets #BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies!

Congratulations to the connections!

J: Juan Hernandez
T: Bob Baffert
O: Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul
B: Mesingw Farm, LLC pic.twitter.com/THh4KnGLVZ

— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 5, 2025

Entered in last November’s Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs, Explora ended up not shipping. The daughter of Blame shortens up to one turn in the Santa Ynez, the only potential caveat. Regular rider Juan Hernandez will be back aboard the 3-5 morning-line favorite.

Bottle of Rouge, who is owned by Baffert’s wife, Jill, has raced just once since her 9-1 upset of Explora in the Del Mar Debutante. In their rematch in the Breeders’ Cup, Bottle of Rouge was a non-threatening sixth. But she was stretching out to two turns that day, and reverting in trip here could help.

A similar comment applies to La Wally, the third-placer in the Del Mar Debutante. The Mark Glatt trainee has since finished a distant runner-up in the Oak Leaf and eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. In addition to cutting back to seven furlongs, La Wally adds blinkers.

Himika prospered by returning to six furlongs in the Oct. 19 Anoakia S. at Santa Anita, where she beat Revera. But Revera turned the tables, going seven furlongs in Del Mar’s Desi Arnaz S. last time out, and she’s eligible to confirm the form over Himika back in these conditions.

The Santa Ynez is carded as the third race, with a post time of 4 p.m. ET, and you can watch and wager on Santa Anita at TwinSpires.com.