Splendora roars and rages. (Jenny Doyle/Beyond the Wire)
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA – Splendora, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, returns to action for trainer Bob Baffert against six rivals in the Grade II, $200,000 D. Wayne Lukas Stakes for older fillies and mares going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.
The D. Wayne Lukas Stakes has been known as the Santa Monica since its first running in 1957. It was renamed this year in honor of the legendary trainer who died in June at the age of 89. In the Lukas field is Lemon Muffin, who made 21 starts for Lukas before his death. She is now trained by Patrick Gallagher.
Splendora won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on November 1 at Del Mar under Flavien Prat by a decisive 4 ¾ lengths. Last year Splendora finished fourth in this race behind winner Kopion. Splendora, a 5-year-old mare by Audible, is 10:5-4-0 with $860,800 in earnings for owner By Talla Racing. She is ridden by Juan Hernandez, who piloted Splendora to victory at Tranquility Lake in Del Mar prior to the Breeders’ Cup.
Splendora’s main rivals include Formula Rossa and Simply Joking, the two-three finishers in the GI La Brea for three-year-old fillies on December 28.
Formula Rossa is trained by Mark Glatt for owner Muir Hut Stable. She was the 2-1 favorite in La Brea but proved no match for winner Usha as she finished 6 ¼ lengths behind that rival. She also previously finished second to the highly ranked Sweet Azteca when she made her stakes debut in the GIII Rancho Bernardo and went 6 ½ furlongs at Del Mar. Formula Rossa, from Vekoma, will be driven by Mike Smith.
Simply Joking in the La Brea finished third with a neck back from Formula Rossa. A $65,000 auction purchase as a yearling, the daughter of Practical Joke is trained by Michael McCarthy for owners Berelks0813, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres and Ryan Conner. Simply Joking is ridden by Kazushi Kimura, who was also on board in the La Brea.
My first start in California is Me and Molly McGee, a 4 year old daughter of Vekoma trained by Peter Eurton. She has been off since finishing last in the Saratoga GI test in August. Me and Molly McGee, a $170,000 auction purchase as a yearling, is owned by Burns Racing, Exline-Border Racing, Wiliam Dan Hudock, Aaron Kennedy and Susanna Wilson. She will have Hector Berrios on board for her local unveiling.
THE GRADE II D. WAYNE LUKAS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 6 of 9 Estimated post time 3:00 PM PT
- Just a joke—Kazushi Kimura—120
- Lemon muffin—Antonio Fresu—120
- Me and Molly McGee—Hector Berrios—120
- Irina’s charm—Armando Ayuso—120
- Splendor—Juan Hernández—124
- No bad beats—Emisael Jaramillo—120
- Red formula—Mike Smith—120
First post Saturday is 12:30 PM PT.
#SPLENDORA #HEADS #WAYNE #LUKAS #STAKES