Four California-based fillies seeking spots in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1, including champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Super Corredora -- are set for Sunday’s $100,000 Las Vírgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.
The filly feature is one of three major preps in California with points on the line for the Run for the Lillies, awarding 20-10-6-4-2 to the top-five finishers.
The day’s feature will run as the eighth race at 5:32 p.m. ET.
Since it was first run in 1983, the Las Vírgenes has drawn some of the best sophomore girls in the West, whose connections have their eyes on success on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby.
The 1-mile race, which also serves as a prep for the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in early April, has over the years drawn winning performances from the likes of Lite Light, Lakeway, Serena’s Song, Sharp Cat, Keeper Hill, Excellent Meeting, Surfside, Rags to Riches, Stardom Bound, Blind Luck, Beholder, Songbird, Unique Bella, Bellafina and Adare Manor.
A total of 20 fillies used a win in this race to capture the Santa Anita Oaks.
The Las Vírgenes is named for a park preserve in Los Angeles County, encompassing nearly 700 acres of the Santa Monica Mountains next to the popular and beautiful Malibu Creek State Park. The area has a few established hiking trails, the most significant being the Las Vírgenes View Trail, which runs through grasslands and oak woodlands near Las Vírgenes Road in the far north San Fernando Valley, then climbs a canyon to a ridge for a 360-degree view of the Santa Monicas. Many things in Southern California are named for the Las Vírgenes area, from school districts to water districts, major thoroughfares that run from the north valley through the Santa Monicas to Malibu, and also stakes races at Santa Anita Park.
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert leads all trainers with nine winners, including the last four. Retired jockeys Corey Nakatani and Gary Stevens each rode four winners. One is in the Hall of Fame; the other is sure to make it in the future.
Super Corredora (3-2) was crowned 2025’s champion 2-year-old filly off her upset in the BC Juvenile Fillies, where she defeated Explora, who also returns here to challenge her nemesis. The Gun Runner filly is making her 3-year-old debut but has prior success at this 1-mile distance over this track in her maiden score back in early October.
She’s proven at the top level with a winning streak to protect and figures to be a major player not only here, but down the Oaks trail. Hector Barrios rides for trainer John Sadler.
Explora (3-5) finished second as the beaten favorite in the BC Juvenile Fillies and enters after a dominant 5¼-length allowance win in the 7-furlong Santa Ynez Stakes last month. She’s the current leader on the Kentucky Oaks points leaderboard with 35 and brings sharp form from Baffert’s barn, making her a strong threat to avenge her loss in the Breeders’ Cup. Juan Hernandez rides the daughter of Blame from post 2.
Meaning, also a daughter of Gun Runner, was a staying-on fourth in the Breeders’ Cup in her second career start and first around two turns. The Michael McCarthy trainee has upside potential for improvement stretching out and could be a live longshot in this spot, especially with top jockey Flavien Prat aboard.
Bank Shot rounds out the field as the likely underdog. The Ryan Hanson-trained daughter of Game Winner was a distant third behind Super Corredora in her maiden win but has shown progress, including a recent maiden-breaking victory at Santa Anita at this distance. Coming off an upward curve, she’s the one with the most to prove against these elite rivals, but could benefit if the pace heats up.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
