Explora, Usha headed to Churchill stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Explora, the Grade 1 Test Stakes winner at Saratoga, and Usha, scratched from Saturday’s Grade 1 Ballerina, were scheduled to ship to Kentucky on Wednesday where they will make their next starts at Churchill Downs, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday.

Explora will make her next start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Dogwood Stakes against 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on Sept. 20. Usha, the 4-year-old New York-bred filly, will make her next start in the $300,000 Open Mind Stakes on Sept. 13 at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Both fillies put in workouts Sunday at Saratoga with Explora working a half-mile in 49.03 seconds and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.85. Usha went a half-mile in 48.77, galloping out in 1:01.63.

Baffert said Usha’s inside draw prompted him to scratch out of a tough renewal of the Ballerina won by Ways and Means.

“She hates to be down inside,” Baffert said.

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