Splendora roars and romps. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Splendora, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner, 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 had been known as the Santa Monica since its inaugural 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 prior to his passing. She is now trained by Patrick Gallagher.
Splendora won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint by a decisive 4 ¾ lengths on Nov. 1 at Del Mar under Flavien Prat. Last year, Splendora finished fourth in this race behind winner Kopion. A 5-year-old mare by Audible, Splendora is 10: 5-4-0 with $860,800 in earnings for owner By Talla Racing. She’ll be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who piloted Splendora to victory in the Tranquility Lake at Del Mar prior to the Breeders’ Cup.
Among Splendora’s chief rivals are Formula Rossa and Simply Joking, the two-three finishers in the GI La Brea for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 28.
Formula Rossa is trained by Mark Glatt for owner Muir Hut Stable. She was the 2-1 favorite in the La Brea, but proved to be no match for winner Usha when finishing 6 ¼ lengths behind that rival. She previously also finished second behind highly regarded Sweet Azteca when making her stakes debut in the GIII Rancho Bernardo going 6 ½ furlongs at Del Mar. Formula Rossa, by Vekoma, will be ridden by Mike Smith.
Simply Joking in the La Brea finished a neck back of Formula Rossa in third. The daughter of Practical Joke, a $65,000 auction buy as a yearling, is trained by Michael McCarthy for owners Berelks0813, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres and Ryan Conner. Simply Joking will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura, who was also aboard in the La Brea.
Making her 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 GI Test at Saratoga in August. A $170,000 auction buy as a yearling, Me and Molly McGee is owned by Burns Racing, Exline-Border Racing, Wiliam Dan Hudock, Aaron Kennedy and Susanna Wilson. She’ll have Hector Berrios aboard for her local unveiling.
THE GRADE II D. WAYNE LUKAS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 6 of 9 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT
- Simply Joking—Kazushi Kimura—120
- Lemon Muffin—Antonio Fresu—120
- Me and Molly McGee—Hector Berrios—120
- Irina’s Charm—Armando Ayuso—120
- Splendora—Juan Hernandez—124
- No Bad Beats—Emisael Jaramillo—120
- Formula Rossa—Mike Smith—120
First post Saturday is 12:30 p.m. PT.
