Baffert wins inaugural running of D. Wayne Lukas S. (G2) with Splendora

Splendora’s class was on full display on Saturday first running of the D. Wayne Lukas S. (G2) at Santa Anita Park as she strolled to an easy victory in her first start of the year.

After a dominating win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on Nov. 1, Bob Baffert gave his filly a brief freshening before returning in Saturday’s seven-furlong dash. Early on, Splendora pressed in third between horses until she began to make her move with three furlongs to run. She collared Me and Molly McGee at the top of the stretch and began to open up with a furlong to go and went on to win by 1 ¾-lengths.

“She is such a good filly,” said Baffert after the race. “She just gives me chills. When I saw that this race was renamed for D. Wayne Lukas, I wanted to win this one. I miss him. I miss talking to him.  He would have loved this.”

“Splendora missed the break and got behind, but Juan [Hernandez] rode her with a lot of confidence. It’s just too bad she didn’t get the [Eclipse Award] championship at the Breeders’ Cup. She is really that good. I don’t know what is next. She lets me know. She couldn’t be better.”

Owned by Michael Talla’s By Talla Racing, LLC, Splendora is now 6-4-0 in 11 starts and has earned $980,800.