Explora coasts to victory in Grade 2 Oak Leaf S.

Explora rolled to a 4 ¼-length win in Saturday’s Oak Leaf S. (G2) at Santa Anita Park, giving Bob Baffert a record 14^th winner of the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.

The win also secured Explora’s spot in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar.

After narrowly losing the Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) on Sept. 6 to stablemate Bottle of Rouge, Explora was nevertheless the odds-on favorite in Saturday’s six-horse field. Her stablemate Himika led the way into the first turn, with Explora contently tracking her through the first six furlongs. Juan Hernandez roused Explora nearing the quarter-pole, and she quickly went by Himika, then bounded clear in the stretch to win as she pleased.

“At the quarter pole, I was wondering if she was really relaxing or not running, but we found out she was relaxing,” Baffert said. “When it was time to go, she took off. That was our plan today was to get her to relax and not go for the lead right away.”

Explora races for the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman and has now earned $228,000.