Splendora has no problem with Shawnee Stakes
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Two turns and 1 1/16 miles presented zero problems for Splendora on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
While the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner twice had won over a Southern California mile, most recently in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile in March, Splendora in the Grade 3, $263,500 Shawnee Stakes comfortably saw out 1 1/16 miles through the long Churchill homestretch, winning by 2 3/4 lengths over 2024 champion 2-year-old filly Immersive.
Trained by Bob Baffert for Randy Boyd’s Boyd Racing and Talla Racing, Splendora rebounded nicely from an even-money defeat May 2 at Churchill in the seven-furlong Derby City Distaff. Splendora had taken ill a couple weeks before that start and missed training, and Baffert said going in that it had been nip and tuck merely having Splendora baseline ready to race.
Beaten 10 lengths and not anywhere near her top form, Splendora was back to her best – or close to it – in the Shawnee. Rating kindly under Flavien Prat, Splendora stalked from second as Gin Gin went to the lead and ran an opening half-mile in 47.07 seconds. Splendora tracked intently around the far turn, cruising to the lead and Gin Gin began a steady fade to last, and the three-length lead Splendora took to the furlong pole scarcely had diminished at the finish.
Majestic Oops for an instant looked like a threat at the stretch call, but her run withered as Immersive, who had gotten a good stalking trip before going flat at the quarter pole, found renewed zest and snatched second from Majestic Oops by a half-length.
Splendora clocked 1:42.07 over a fast track and paid $4.78.
A Maryland-bred, Splendora is by Audible out of Miss Freeze, by Frost Giant, and as good as she is racing seven furlongs, Splendora looked formidable going a route Saturday at Churchill.
*** If a star emerged from Saturday’s fourth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies contested at a one-turn dirt mile, it was not odds-on favorite Mashallah. Mashallah earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure winning her debut last month at Keeneland, but came up empty Saturday after setting the pace, checking in fifth as Betty’s Pearl rallied to victory.
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