Leading Female Sprinter Splendora Returns A Winner In Saturday’s Grade II D. Wayne Lukas Stakes For Fillies And Mares Going 7 Furlongs At Santa Anita

LEADING FEMALE SPRINTER SPLENDORA RETURNS A WINNER IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II D. WAYNE LUKAS STAKES FOR FILLIES AND MARES GOING 7 FURLONGS AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 7, 2026)—In her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, Splendora returned a winner for trainer Bob Baffert Saturday with a comfortable 1 ?-lengths victory in the Grade II, $200,000 D. Wayne Lukas Stakes for fillies and mares going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

After breaking near the rear of the field, Splendora (2-5) and jockey Juan Hernandez ranged up towards the leaders on the backstretch and settled in behind horses. Setting the pace up front was Me and Molly McGee (10-1), who posted opening fractions of 22.78 and 45.63 seconds under Hector Berrios. At the top of the stretch, Splendora drew on even terms with Me and Molly McGee and gradually inched away from the pacesetter to earn her second graded victory and third stakes win overall.

“All the credit is for my filly because she did everything,” Hernandez said. “She kind of broke a step slow, but after that she recovered very well. She got in position, and at around the three-eighths pole, she started to run. She just ran on her own today. I was just happy to be aboard her.”

Splendora’s winning time was 1:22.09.

“She is such a good filly. She just gives me chills,” Baffert said. “She missed the break and got behind, but Juan rode her with a lot of confidence.”

Me and Molly McGee, trained by Peter Eurton, finished 2 ? lengths clear of third-place finisher Formula Rossa (5-2). Lemon Muffin, a former pupil of the late D. Wayne Lukas, completed the superfecta at odds of 38-1.

This race was formerly known as the Santa Monica Stakes. It was renamed this year in honor of legendary trainer who died last summer at the age 89.

“When I saw that this race was renamed for D. Wayne Lukas, I wanted to win this one,” Baffert said. “I miss him. I miss talking to him. He would have loved this.”

Splendora is a 5-year-old mare by Audible owned by By Talla Racing. In last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs, Splendora rolled to a 4 ?-length victory.

“It’s just too bad she didn’t get the championship at the Breeders’ Cup. She is really that good,” Baffert said.

Splendora improved to 11: 6-4-0 with more than $980,000 in earnings.

Splendora paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10 for the popular victory. Me and Molly McGee returned $6.20 and $2.60. Formula Rossa, ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Mark Glatt, paid $2.10.

GRADE II, D. WAYNE LUKAS STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

JUAN HERNANDEZ, SPLENDORA, WINNER: “All the credit is for my filly because she did everything. She kind of broke a step slow, but after that she recovered very well. She got in position and at around the three-eighths pole she started to run off. She just ran on her own today. I was just happy to be aboard her.

“Bob (Baffert) does an unbelievable job with her. She is nice. She is push button.”

“Bob knows her really well and he told me to ride her with confidence, she’s doing great, and he was right.”

TRAINER QUOTES

BOB BAFFERT, SPLENDORA, WINNER: “She is such a good filly. 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 rode her with a lot of confidence. It’s just too bad she didn’t get the 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.”

OWNER QUOTES

MICHAEL TALLA, BY TALLA RACING, SPENDORA, WINNER: “I hope there’s nothing she can’t do. We want to go back to the Breeders’ Cup again, so we’ve got some races lined up for her. Albeit, she has to stay healthy. If she stays healthy we think we know where we are going next, but everything is to get back to Breeders’ Cup. That is the ambition and the goal.

“D. Wayne Lukas, like Bob (Baffert) has said a billion times, he was the best of the best. And Bob is the second best of the best and I am the third best of the best.

“It’s really incredible to have a horse like this. Everyone says they don’t come around very often so when you get one like this you really have to appreciate it and we do. We have Juan, we have Bob Baffert, we have everyone we need to get this horse over the goal. That’s where she is right now, just perfect, we just have to keep her healthy.”

NOTES: The winning owners are By Talla Racing LLC.