Resplendence coasted wire-to-wire for a 2 3/4-length victory in the $175,000 Cincinnati Trophy on Friday night at Turfway Park, scoring a $25.42 upset in the Kentucky Oaks points race.
With her victory, Resplendence earned 20 points toward a spot in the Kentucky Oaks, the filly classic set for May 1 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Paulo Lobo confirmed post-race that the filly is a nominee to the Oaks; early nominations closed on Feb. 18, and have not yet been released by Churchill.
Resplendence, who was coming off a front-running maiden victory at Turfway, went for the same tactics on Friday night, as she was sent away smartly from the inside post in the field of 11, with jockey Alberto Burgos in the irons. Longshot Emily's Joy briefly matched strides with her in the short run into the first turn before conceding the lead, allowing Resplendence to settle nicely through the opening quarter of 25.42 seconds on the Tapeta. Meanwhile, the complexion of the race changed dramatically when Dame Laura, favored off a dominant allowance/optional-claiming win at Turfway last month, was injured about a furlong in to the race. The filly, who was looking to settle in to a tight position between foes toward the rear of the field, appeared to take several awkward steps as jockey Edgar Morales pulled her up, quickly dropping off the screen. The filly was vanned off the track, and no word was immediately available from her connections on her condition.
Up front, Resplendence continued to cruise well within herself, hitting the half-mile in 50.82 seconds and six furlongs in 1:15.83, bringing a handy length lead into the stretch over the pursuing Emily's Joy, but beginning to open up on that fading foe.
Lovely Grey, who was coming off of a solid third, beaten less than a length with an imperfect trip, in a Turfway allowance/optional-claiming race on Jan. 22, rallied from sixth at the halfway point to give chase late, failing to seriously threaten the winner - who was ridden out briskly by Burgos - while easily five lengths best of the rest. Resist, who tracked throughout, was a clear third by 3 3/4 lengths over Rip Current, who finished well from ninth into the slow pace to be fourth. Resist and Rip Current emerged from the same race as Lovely Grey, finishing first and fourth, respectively.
After Rip Current came Map of the Moon, Wonzee Weather, Belle of the Barn, Easter Promise, Coco Connect, and Emily's Joy. The final time for the mile was 1:40.69.
The Cincinnati Trophy was the first of Turfway’s two points races toward the Kentucky Oaks. After the 20 points to the winner, points were available to the other top finishers on a 10-6-4-2 basis. This was the local prep for the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks on Turfway’s marquee March 21 card, which awards points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis.
Resplendence, a daughter of Justify, races as a homebred for Bonne Chance Farm. The filly was unplaced in her first two starts on dirt before turning in an improved effort when second by a nose in a mile dirt maiden last November in Indiana. She improved even more when winning her 3-year-old debut, at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta, on the lead on Jan. 15 at Turfway – and now leads some of the local Oaks candidates.
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