Explora draws outside post as even-money favorite for Fantasy

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Explora and Search Party, who have won the first two Kentucky Oaks points races at Oaklawn Park, will meet March 27 in the track’s Grade 2, $1 million Fantasy.

Post positions were drawn for the 1 1/16 miles race after the Friday opener. A field of six was entered. A ceremonial draw was broadcast live on FOX and the simulcast feed from Oaklawn.

Explora drew post 6 and was made the even-money favorite following her victory in the local Grade 3, $750,000 Honeybee.

Search Party won the Martha Washington this meet and for the Fantasy she will start from the rail. She is 6-1 and one of three fillies in the field for trainer Mark Casse. He also will saddle Empath, an announced supplement who drew post 2, and Counting Stars, who will start from post 3.

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The complete field from the rail with riders and morning line odds: Search Party, Cristian Torres, 6-1; Empath, Ramon Vazquez, 20-1; Counting Stars, Francisco Arrieta, 5-2; Taken by the Wind, Manny Esquivel, 15-1; Sticker Shock, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 3-1; and Explora, Flavien Prat, even money.

Grade 3 winner Taken by the Wind worked a half-mile Friday at Oaklawn, going in 48.40 seconds. Sticker Shock also worked over the local surface Friday, going five furlongs in 1:01. She enters off an allowance win.

The Fantasy will award Kentucky Oaks points to its first five finishers on a sliding scale of 100-50-25-15-10.

Last year, the Fantasy had a purse of $750,000. It was boosted for 2026 and moved to the Friday before Arkansas Derby Day, which is next Saturday, March 28.

The forecast for next Friday is partly cloudy skies and a high of 73 degrees.

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