Splendora Del Mar delivered a commanding performance in Thursday’s featured allowance sprint at Del Mar, cruising to a three-and-a-half length victory under Juan Hernandez. The six-furlong contest for fillies and mares offered a showcase of acceleration, precision, and polish from the 4-year-old daughter of Audible.Breaking from midpack, Splendora settled comfortably before splitting horses at the top of the stretch. Hernandez, barely needing to move his hands, let her glide past rivals with a devastating turn of foot. She stopped the clock in 1:09.73 on a mild Pacific afternoon, rewarding backers with $3.00 on a 1/2 favorite.The filly is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and races for Talla Racing. Her latest win brings her career earnings to $280,800, built on a record of three wins and four seconds from just eight starts. She earned $50,400 from Thursday’s $88,518 purse and continues to validate the high expectations surrounding her sophomore season.Runner-up Ooty, also trained by Baffert, was making her U.S. debut for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and looked like a promising type despite being outkicked late. Safa, owned by Bisharat or Khoury, completed the trifecta after a solid effort from off the pace.This latest win sets up Splendora Del Mar as a likely contender for the Rancho Bernardo Handicap on August 24—a six and one-half furlong Grade III sprint for older fillies and mares at Del Mar. Given her blend of speed and poise, the fit looks perfect.
Splendora Del Mar Continues Her Rise
“She’s just so professional now,” said Hernandez. “We sat off the speed, and when I asked her to go, she just cruised. Didn’t even need the stick.” The effort was eye-catching not just for its margin but for its efficiency. It’s the kind of performance that gets noticed by stakes coordinators—and rival trainers.
Splendora Del Mar has been knocking on the door in allowance and minor stakes company, and Thursday’s romp might have finally opened it. She’s versatile enough to stalk or close, and with her experience and light campaign, Baffert appears to be spacing her perfectly for a strong summer stretch run.
While fans soaked up the coastal vibes at Del Mar, connections quietly smiled at what could be a breakout filly in the making. Rancho Bernardo offers the right distance, surface, and timing—and would mark Splendora’s first step into graded company.
Del Mar’s summer meet continues Friday with first post at 4:00 p.m. But Thursday belonged to Splendora Del Mar—a filly whose name is starting to match her performance.
Want more sprint coverage and fillies to follow? Read our Scarlet Sands Miss Gracie Stakes 2025 preview and explore all U.S. race updates in our International Racing section.
