Explora meets familiar foes in Fantasy

There's never been much value to be had on Explora, a situation highly unlikely to change on Friday when she heads a field of six three-year-old fillies in the $1 million Fantasy (G2) at Oaklawn Park.

Favored in all seven of her previous starts, all but one at even-money or less, Explora will attempt to double up on her success in the March 1 Honeybee (G3) over the same track and 1 1/16-mile distance. And three of her five Fantasy rivals finished behind her in the Honeybee.

But Explora has never been a shoe-in. Yes, she's been among those most accomplished of her generation to date, but she's been beaten into second-place in three of her seven starts. And her winning margin in the Honeybee over Counting Stars was a diminishing three parts of a length.

Besides Counting Stars, the other Honeybee starters returning are Search Party and Taken by the Wind. Search Party prevailed in a blanket finish to the Martha Washington S. two back but was less effective in the Honeybee. Taken by the Wind ran a complete dud in the Honeybee, a performance best excused, given her prior victories in the Pocahontas (G3) and Silverbulletday S.

Among the two stakes newcomers, Sticker Shock figures to get plenty of attention. The improving daughter of Uncle Mo has won two straight, including an entry-level allowance on Feb. 26 for which she earned a competitive 90 Brisnet Speed rating.

The Fantasy offers Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points of 100-50-25-15-10 to the respective top five finishers.