Saturday’s Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs features a dozen races for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds. One of the feature events is Race 11, the $400,000, Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile steppingstone to the 2026 Kentucky Oaks.

The expected favorite, and the most accomplished entrant, is #12 Explora. Based in California with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Explora has repeatedly proven her worth against tough competition, sandwiching a win in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association between runner-up finishes in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. In the latter race — the most important of the year for 2-year-old fillies — Explora was beaten by only three-quarters of a length.

But in recent years, when Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies starters have run back in the Golden Rod, they’ve disappointed at short odds. Simply Ravishing finished fourth in the 2020 Golden Rod while favored at 7-10. Restless Rider started at the same price in the 2018 Golden Rod but settled for second place. Daddys Lil Darling was the 5-2 favorite in the 2016 Golden Rod and likewise finished second.

Throw in the fact Explora risks a wide trip while breaking from post-position 12, and there are reasons to believe she’s a vulnerable favorite. We’ll try to beat her with the speedy New York-bred filly #5 Letmecounttheways.

Letmecounttheways is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts against New York-bred rivals. She debuted in a maiden special weight sprint at Aqueduct, where she led all the way to dominate by 5 1/2 lengths. Next, in the one-mile Maid of the Mist Stakes at Aqueduct, Letmecounttheways again led from the start to score by six lengths over a field including next-out stakes winner Victory Hall.

In the Maid of the Mist, Letmecounttheways ran her final quarter-mile in a quick :24.89 to record a respectable final time of 1:35.94. Her strong finish suggests she’ll enjoy racing around two turns for the first time in the Golden Rod. The daughter of hot young sire Yaupon should be tough to catch in the Churchill Downs stretch.

We recommend betting Letmecounttheways to win and playing her on top of Explora in an exacta, which requires selecting the top-two finishers in order.

Wagering Strategy on a $12 Budget

$8 to win on 5

What to say at the betting window: Churchill Downs, Race 11, $8 to win on 5

$4 exacta: 5 with 12

What to say at the betting window: Churchill Downs, Race 11, $4 exacta 5 with 12

Wagering Strategy on a $24 Budget

$16 to win on 5

What to say at the betting window: Churchill Downs, Race 11, $16 to win on 5

$8 exacta: 5 with 12

What to say at the betting window: Churchill Downs, Race 11, $8 exacta 5 with 12

Good luck and enjoy the race!

2025 Golden Rod S.
November 29th, 2025

5:54 PM EST
on
FanDuel TV

• Purse: $400,000
• Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles
• Age: 2 yo
• Surface: Dirt

1 Baracca

• Jockey / Axel Concepcion
• Trainer / Brendan P. Walsh
• Owner / Heider Family Stables LLC
• Breeder / Jamm, LTD.

2 Essential Coffee

• Jockey / Corey J. Lanerie
• Trainer / Steven M. Asmussen
• Owner / Robison, J. Kirk and Robison, Judy
• Breeder / J. Kirk Robison & Judy Robison

3 Just Singing

• Jockey / Luan Machado
• Trainer / J. Kent Sweezey
• Owner / Whisper Hill Farm, LLC
• Breeder / Dr. Richard Holder & Justify Syndicate

4 Vita Mia

• Jockey / Junior Alvarado
• Trainer / Armando De la cerda
• Owner / Stephen Screnci
• Breeder / Ponder Hill, Inc.

5 Letmecounttheways

• Jockey / Joel Rosario
• Trainer / Michael J. Maker
• Owner / Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, Staudacher, David and Zilla Racing Stables
• Breeder / Dr. Jerry Bilinski

6 Life of Joy

• Jockey / Irad Ortiz, Jr.
• Trainer / Brad H. Cox
• Owner / Stroud, Will, Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm and For the People Racing Stable LLC
• Breeder / Springhouse Farm

7 Raspberry

• Jockey / Luis Saez
• Trainer / D. Whitworth Beckman
• Owner / Springhouse Farm, Pick View, LLC, Knuckley, Kevin, Lollypop Racing, LLC, Quinn's Ride, LLC, Shanahan, Mrs. Paul and Ribble Farms
• Breeder / KiCourt, LLC

8 Wonzee Weather

• Jockey / Chase Miller
• Trainer / Darrin Miller
• Owner / Tom R. Walters
• Breeder / Tom R. Walters

9 Atropa

• Jockey / Jose L. Ortiz
• Trainer / Cherie DeVaux
• Owner / Belladonna Racing LLC, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing LLC and B.C.W.T. Ltd.
• Breeder / Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC

10 Coco Connect

• Jockey / Adam Beschizza
• Trainer / John Ennis
• Owner / BSF Equine Athlete LLC
• Breeder / Woods Edge Farm, LLC

11 Bella Ballerina

• Jockey / Tyler Gaffalione
• Trainer / Brendan P. Walsh
• Owner / Godolphin, LLC
• Breeder / Godolphin

12 Explora

• Jockey / Flavien Prat
• Trainer / Bob Baffert
• Owner / Watson, Karl, Pegram, Michael E. and Weitman, Paul
• Breeder / Mesingw Farm, LLC

13 The Grumpy Rabbit

• Jockey / Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
• Trainer / Kenneth G. McPeek
• Owner / Edwin C. Anthony
• Breeder / Maegan Ford Nicholson & James Nicholson

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