Splendora to run in Lukas Stakes

Splendora, who ended her 2025 season with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar in November, is on schedule to start in the Grade 2 D. Wayne Lukas Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 7, trainer Bob Baffert said recently.

The Feb. 7 card is the leading program of the month at Santa Anita, a day with four stakes.

Splendora worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds at Santa Anita last Saturday, her fourth workout since late December. Owned by Michael Talla, Splendora has won 5 of 10 starts and earned $860,800.

A 5-year-old mare by Audible, Splendora won the BC Filly and Mare Sprint by 4 3/4 lengths. She is a finalist for two Eclipse Awards to be presented on Thursday evening in Florida – outstanding female sprinter and older dirt female.

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The $200,000 Lukas Stakes is run at seven furlongs for fillies and mares and was previously known as the Santa Monica Stakes. The name was changed for this year’s running to honor the late Hall of Fame trainer, who won the Santa Monica Stakes six times from 1980 to 1996.

Baffert has won the race a record seven times from 2006 to 2023.

The Lukas Stakes is the richest of four stakes on the Feb. 7 program. The other races are worth $100,000 and are the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on dirt, the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes for older horses at a mile on turf, and the Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

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