Splendora Gives Baffert An Emotional Win in Inaugural D. Wayne Lukas at Santa Anita

[Wandering Eyes]

It was hard not to lament the loss when asked about D. Wayne Lukas in the paddock, but trainer Bob Baffert was given an emotional win in the race named after his longtime friend when Splendora (Audible) kicked home to claim the inaugural running of the GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

The clear horse to beat after wrapping her 2025 with a stylish victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint last November, the daughter of Audible entered this contest on a three-race win streak. She'd dominated the Tranquility Lake Stakes two back, also at Del Mar as a prep for the championships, and earned a career-best 100 Beyer. The start of her string was a 3 1/2-length success against optional claiming company at the Oceanside venue in late July.

Content to watch Me and Molly McGee (Vekoma) as the 10-1 shot stepped out to set the fractions, the compact field tracked that one through an opening quarter in :22.78 and a half in :45.63. Trying to shake loose through the bend, but with 2-5 favorite Splendora looming the danger entering the lane, the longtime leader yielded to the Breeders' Cup champion in midstretch as she rolled in to stop the clock in 1:22.09. Formula Rossa (Vekoma) closed the trifecta in third.

Also entered in the race was Lemon Muffin (Collected), who finished fourth, and who spent a good portion of her career in the barn of the late, great Hall of Famer. Under his guidance, she won the 2024 GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park and competed in the GI Kentucky Oaks. The grey last raced for Lukas June 13 last year at Churchill Downs, after which she was moved to Rodolphe Brisset and later Patrick Gallagher for this jump.

 

@BreedersCup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner #5 SPLENDORA ($2.80) returns with an easy victory in the $200,000 D. Wayne Lukas Stakes (G2) at @SantaAnitaPark. @JJHernandezS19 piloted the five-year-old Audible (@WinStarFarm) mare for trainer Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/HNLTCxS4TL

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 7, 2026

Pedigree Notes:

Splendora is the second to the races for Miss Freeze, a stakes winner at Belmont Park in her career, behind winning eldest sister Firsttimeinforever (Always Dreaming). The mare's 2022 Bernardini died, but she did produce a now 3-year-old colt named Oracle of Beaufort (Demarchelier {GB}) as well as a yearling filly by Tiz the Law. She is due to National Treasure in 2026.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
D. WAYNE LUKAS S.-GII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 2-7, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:22.09, ft.
1–SPLENDORA, 124, m, 5, by Audible
                1st Dam: Miss Freeze (SW), by Frost Giant
                2nd Dam: Reata's Vixen, by Sligo Bay (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Top of the League, by Lite the Fuse
($125,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-By Talla Racing, LLC; B-The Elkstone Group LLC (MD); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 11-6-4-0, $980,800. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Me and Molly McGee, 120, f, 4, Vekoma–Molly McGee, by Quality Road. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($110,000 Wlg '22 FTKNOV; $170,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Burns Racing, LLC, Exline-Border Racing, LLC, Hudock, William Dan, Kennedy, Aaron and Wilson, Susanna; B-Four Pillars Holdings LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $40,000.
3–Formula Rossa, 120, f, 4, Vekoma–Fay Na Na, by Majestic Warrior. ($130,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN; $270,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). O-Muir Hut Stables LLC; B-Greathouse Equine, LLC & Glencrest Farm, LLC (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $24,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 10.50, 2.50.
Also Ran: Lemon Muffin, Irina's Charm, No Bad Beats. Scratched: Simply Joking.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO,
sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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