Explosive Girl, who earned the nickname “Queen of Ak-Sar-Ben” for her nine career wins at the defunct Nebraska racetrack, passed away on October 10 at the age of 29 at Caines Stallion Station near Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
“She had quite a following in her day,” said Ellen Caines. “Everyone used to say all they ever got to see of her was her behind. It just isn’t the same to go out to her pasture and not see her standing there waiting on me to feed her.”
Caines had Explosive Girl since 2005, when she acquired the daughter of Explodent from fellow Oklahoman Jim Wells.
Purchased by Wells as a weanling at Keeneland, the Kentucky-bred Explosive Girl compiled a record of 40-15-10-5 during her career with earnings of $467,592. Much of her success came in Omaha, where she became a fan favorite with consecutive wins in the 1987 and 1988 Ak-Sar-Ben Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Ak-Sar-Ben Oaks. She also recorded stakes wins at Remington Park and Canterbury Downs (now Canterbury Park).
“She brought a lot of people and friends together and gave them a lot of fun for a long time,” said Wells. “She will always hold a special spot in all our hearts.”
Explosive Girl was perhaps most famous for her match race against Nebraska legend Who Doctor Who in 1988 at Ak-Sar-Ben. Although she came up short in the $50,000 event, the filly vs. gelding showdown attracted national attention as the first major match race since Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure. More than 21,000 were in attendance to see the race.
As a broodmare, Explosive Girl produced 10 winners from 12 starters, including Grass Eiko O, a Group 3-placed runner in Japan.