Hernandez opts for Splendora over stablemate in Santa Margarita
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The decision was left to jockey Juan Hernandez.
Pick a mount for Sunday’s Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita – the stakes-placed Splendora, or her improving stablemate Seismic Beauty. Both are trained by Bob Baffert.
“It was a tough choice for him there,” Baffert said. “I usually make the choices for him.”
Hernandez selected Splendora, who will be favored in the $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes, the third race on Sunday’s 10-race program.
Hernandez rode Seismic Beauty and Splendora in their last starts. He said he chose Splendora after consulting with his agent, Craig O’Bryan.
“It was a hard decision because both fillies are good,” Hernandez said on Thursday. “They’re about the same.”
Splendora, owned by By Talla Racing LLC, has yet to win a stakes in three such races since late December. In the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on April 19, Splendora was always close to the front, but could not keep pace in the stretch with the Baffert-trainer Richi, who won by 4 1/2 lengths. The Santa Maria was Splendora’s first start around two turns.
“Last time, Richi was faster than me,” Hernandez said. “My filly relaxed pretty well behind her. That was the first time for my filly going long.
“I think I ran a good second. I was happy with that.”
Seismic Beauty, who races for the partnership of My Racehorse syndicate and Peter Leidel, led throughout an allowance race at a mile on April 18 in her fifth start, and first race around two turns.
“She won easy,” Hernandez said.
For Sunday’s race, Antonio Fresu has been booked to ride Seismic Beauty, who starts from the outside post and is likely to set the pace. Hernandez was aboard Seismic Beauty for her first five starts.
“She has a lot of speed and is quick,” Baffert said.
Richi was nominated for the Santa Margarita, but Baffert said on Thursday that he did not have specific race plans in mind for the seven-time stakes winner in Chile and California.
“She ran hard last time and is doing well,” Baffert said. “She could go out of town.”
Aside from Seismic Beauty and Splendora, the Santa Margarita field includes Alpha Bella, Liberal Lady, Princess of Time, and Where’s My Ring.
It is possible fewer than six will start.
Where’s My Ring, third behind 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 12, is entered in Monday’s Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares on turf, but will either start on Sunday or in the Grade 3 Shawnee Stakes, a $275,000 race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on May 31, trainer Peter Miller said on Friday.
Alpha Bella, second in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on March 29, is entered in the Gamely Stakes, but will start on Sunday, trainer John Sadler wrote in a text message on Friday.
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