Betting With, and Against, Explora in the Test Stakes

Grade 2 heroine #7 Explora (5-2) has been installed as the morning-line choice for Saturday’s $500,000 Test (G1) at Saratoga. The seven-furlong dash on the dirt is a very competitive race with numerous reasonable contenders, though the Bob Baffert trainee will be tough to upend with her best effort. 

Explora – With

• $25 exacta 7 with 5 ($25)
• $3 trifecta key 7 with 1,5,6 ($18)

Explora – Against

• $25 win #5 Goodall ($25)
• $1 trifecta 5 with 1,6,7 with all ($18)

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The consistently very good daughter of Blame has been excellent since her debut run at Del Mar last summer, and following a fine two-year-old season, the sophomore has picked up where she left off in 2026. Explora has won two of her last three races coming into the race, and she has also compiled three wins and a Grade-1 second when traveling around one turn, as well. The $350,000 juvenile purchase draws outside some of the other pace in the dash and should have no excuses with Flavien Prat in the silks. 

#5 Goodall (5-1) ran a winning race in defeat when checking in a clear second in the Victory Ride (G3) on the oval most recently and rates a big chance with even minor improvement on Saturday. The $525,000 daughter of Yaupon is quick from the gate but doesn’t need the lead to run well, and I envision her receiving a fine voyage while pressing the pace early on with John Velazquez picking up the live mount. 

The Brad Cox-conditioned #6 On Time Girl (7-2) has amassed an 8-5-2-1 mark in her career to this stage of her development and was a clear second behind Explora at Churchill Downs in her latest foray. The Not This Time filly is a two-time winner at seven-eighths from three tries at the trip and will be moving best of all late beneath Irad. 

#1 Movie Night (7-2) has improved her Brisnet Speed rating in each race to date and is a logical contender while making her stakes debut for Will Walden. The Speightstown three-year-old has been visually impressive in her two dominant wins in advance of this, and the WinStar homebred drilled a bullet five panels on the Churchill Downs dirt in preparation for the dash. Jose Ortiz will be on board.