By Alan Carasso
It was reported earlier in the week that Boyd Racing and By Talla Racing's Splendora (Audible) would not take her spot in the field for Saturday's GII Shawnee Stakes on Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs. Ultimately–and to the surprise of most–she was given her chance by trainer Bob Baffert and the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner sat a pace-pressing trip, easily seeing out the 8 1/2-furlong trip to validate 6-5 favoritism.
The Maryland-bred showed good pace from gate five, but was beaten to the lead by the rail-drawn Gin Gin (Hightail) and was content to take the sit from second beneath Flavien Prat. In a good rhythm into the final four furlongs, Splendora was asked to take closer order and poked a head in front five-sixteenths from home. Switching her leads on cue, Splendora pinched a break under left-handed urging and never looked like losing. Immersive (Nyquist), the champion juvenile filly of 2024, won a photo for second over the evergreen Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor).
Runner-up in the GII Santa Maria Stakes going this distance and in the nine-furlong GII Santa Margarita Stakes this time last year, Splendora took out the one-mile Tranquility Lake Stakes at Del Mar last September before scoring a decisive victory in the Filly & Mare Sprint.
The dark bay, first-up winner of the seven-furlong GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes (formerly Santa Monica Stakes) at Santa Anita Feb. 7, added the GI Beholder Mile Stakes going the mile a month later, but she stubbed her toe badly when last seen in this track's May 2 GI Derby City Distaff, laboring home a distant fourth at even-money.
“Today the real Splendora showed up,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who was on hand and explained that he was on the fence about running in the Shawnee or shipping to New York for Friday's GI Ogden Phipps Stakes at Saratoga.
Pedigree Notes:
One of three winners at the graded level and the lone elite-level scorer for her sire, Splendora was purchased by The Elkstone Group for $45,000 when offered in utero at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale.
New York-bred Miss Freeze was bought back on a bid of $37,000 when believed to be pregnant to Mo Donegal at Keeneland November in 2023, but she did not produce a foal to that cover the following season. Splendora has a yearling half-sister by Tiz the Law and a half-brother by National Treasure that was foaled Mar. 20.
What a run from Splendora! 🐎
She captures the Grade II Shawnee Stakes with a standout performance on Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs. pic.twitter.com/yjW1FzTkKn
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 30, 2026
Saturday, Churchill Downs
SHAWNEE S.-GII, $263,500, Churchill Downs, 5-30, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:42.07, ft.
1–SPLENDORA, 123, 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-Boyd Racing, LLC (Randy Boyd)
and By Talla Racing, LLC; B-The Elkstone Group LLC (MD);
T-Bob Baffert; J-Flavien Prat. $151,900. Lifetime Record:
MGISW, 14-8-4-0, $1,357,700. Werk Nick Rating: D+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Immersive, 118, f, 4, Nyquist–Gap Year, by Bernardini.
O/B-Godolphin, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $59,000.
3–Majestic Oops, 120, m, 6, Majestic Harbor–Miss Oops, by
Olmodavor. O-Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Sheila
Regan, Agave Racing Stable and Sublime Racing; B-William
Dory, Sandy Dory, Gary Kropp & Janet Kropp (CA); T-Philip
D'Amato. $24,500.
Margins: 2 3/4, HF, 6 3/4. Odds: 1.39, 2.99, 3.63.
Also Ran: Take Charge Omaha, Too Much Kiki, Gin Gin, Miss Justify.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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