Splendora bounces back in Shawnee, proves she can handle the distance

Bob Baffert came within a decision of scratching Splendora, then watched the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner answer every question in the Grade 2 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The 5-year-old daughter of Audible shook off the doubts from her poor Derby City Distaff run and handled the stretch-out to 1 1/16 miles with authority, winning the $300,000 race by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:42.07 over Immersive. Under Flavien Prat, Splendora tracked in second behind Gin Gin, moved to the lead on the far turn and steadily drew off on a fast main track in the seventh running of the Shawnee, which drew seven older fillies and mares.

What changed from early May was the horse herself and the circumstances around her. Daily Racing Form reported Splendora had taken ill a couple of weeks before the Derby City Distaff and missed training, which helps explain why her even-money defeat there looked out of character. Baffert also had early-week concerns about a muddy Churchill Downs surface, but Splendora kept showing him enough in the days leading up to the race to stay in the field. The result was the kind of rebound that does more than erase one bad race. It opened up options.

The biggest issue hanging over Splendora was whether she could carry her speed around two turns. She answered that emphatically. This was her first win at a route distance beyond a mile and her first victory around two turns, a meaningful development for a mare whose résumé already included a championship sprint title. BloodHorse had described her as a dual Grade 1 winner going in, and she looked every bit like a mare whose best work may no longer be confined to shorter races.

The Shawnee also sharpened the summer map. Churchill Downs has used the race as a local prep for the June 27 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes, and Splendora’s win now positions her for a major test in the older filly and mare division. Immersive, a three-time Grade 1 winner and 2024 champion 2-year-old filly, gave the race some depth, and Majestic Oops was part of the competitive mix as well. For Splendora, the message was simple: the setback in the Derby City Distaff was real, but so was the bounce back.