Explora, the favorite and runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, is set to begin her 3-year-old season in the $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park on January 3. This 7-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies offers qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs and features a field of five, including La Wally, who finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup and was runner-up to Explora in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2). Three of the entrants, including Explora, are trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

Explora, a daughter of Blame owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, is the most accomplished in the field with multiple graded stakes placings and 25 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, second only to Super Corredora. The race could be affected by ongoing rain at Santa Anita, which recently caused cancellations. The Santa Ynez Stakes serves as an important early test for these fillies aiming for the Kentucky Oaks.