Splendora Rolls to Easy Locust Grove Victory
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Photo: Heather C. Jackson
Splendora leaves Yes It Tiz (pink cap) and Immersive in her wake as she romps in the Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs
Splendora turned what was a compelling matchup into a runaway, coasting to a 5 1/4-length victory in the $326,000 Locust Grove Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs.
Her victory helped her trainer, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, and her jockey, reigning Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat, to three stakes wins each Saturday, as the two teamed up earlier on the card with Usha in the Open Mind Stakes, and Baffert saddled Salahudin🔥 to win the Iroquois Stakes (G3).
Splendora, winner of the 2025 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), and Immersive , the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and divisional champion, headed a compact but compelling group of four. They were joined by Yes It Tiz and Chilled after the scratches of Simply Joking —who instead ran in the Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) where she finished second at Gulfstream Park—and Miss Authentic .
Splendora, owned by By Talla Racing and Boyd Racing, came in having won seven of her past eight starts, including four of five this year. Most recently, that included a runaway score in the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2) by 5 1/2 lengths, as she has stretched out around two turns this year to good success; in fact, her only loss of 2026 came around one turn. Meanwhile, Immersive, although she was beaten by Splendora in the Shawnee Stakes (G2) in May at Churchill, appeared to find her killer instinct last time out with a game win in the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2).
There was only one way for Splendora to go breaking from the rail, and Prat let her roll out of the gate. She was very comfortable through an opening quarter-mile of :24.28 despite Immersive being glued to her hip, and ticked off the half in :47.86. She widened the lead as Immersive came under a ride on the far turn and, as she hit the stretch, she was drew away as she pleased. Prat was a statue in the irons as she swept under the wire.
"She was very impressive again today," Prat said. "She broke well and traveled easily on the lead and showed her class once again."
Yes It Tiz, who was never far off the big two, ran on well to be a clear second, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Immersive, who has still never missed the board. Chilled was never involved and was eased to the wire before walking home.
Splendora, who returned $2.40 as the favorite, completed the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated fast in 1:43.30.
Bred in Maryland by The Elkstone Group, Splendora is the top runner for sire Audible . The grade 1-winning son of seven-time leading sire Into Mischief stood this past season for $7,500 at WinStar Farm in Kentucky.
Video: Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove S. (G2)
Built, Usha Take Undercard Sprints
Earlier on the card, Built and Usha, both favored and both ridden by Prat, won a pair of stakes for older sprinters that could propel them toward the Breeders' Cup.
Built ($3.32) was a 1 1/2-length victor in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes, and was greeted in the winner's circle by an ebullient trainer Wayne Catalano and a group from owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
Built wins the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes
Built, a player on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail in 2025, has been cut back to sprints with great success. He came into Saturday's card off a victory in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.
The colt sat in the catbird seat, in third on the outside of pacesetting Harrodsburg , who had defeated him in June in the Bango Stakes (G3). Built did have to work to put that foe away, then held sway over a late bid from longshot Echo Again . He finished the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.28.
Bred in Kentucky by Robert and Lawana Low, Built is by the consistent sire Hard Spun , who stood for $20,000 at Darley in 2026.
Video: Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. (BT)
One race earlier, Usha, who broke from the rail under Prat, took a seam on the rail inside hot pacesetter Modo , then held off Look Forward —who gave a fine account of herself in her first start in more than a year—by three-quarters of a length to win the $268,500 Open Mind Stakes for fillies and mares.
Usha wins the Open Mind Stakes
Usha's biggest victory came in the La Brea Stakes (G1) last December in California. She finished third in the Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) and won the Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs during the spring meet, but bounced back in the Open Mind off two somewhat-perplexing losses, finishing seventh in the Chicago Stakes (G2) locally and then third against her fellow New York-breds in the Johnstone Stakes Aug. 5 at Saratoga. Baffert entered her in the Ballerina Stakes (G1) two weeks ago but, dissatisfied with her draw, scratched her to await the Churchill meet.
"Her last race in New York was a puzzle," Baffert said. "She just didn't show up. I thought this was a good spot for her. She really does not like to draw the inside, and she drew the 1, but Prat rode a great race and she showed up."
Usha is a New York-bred daughter of fellow New York-bred Tiz the Law🔥 , a red-hot young sire who stood for $40,000 this season at Coolmore's Ashford Stud. She was bred by Esler and Raine, and races for the "Three Amigos"—Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. She finished the 6 furlongs in 1:10.55.