Talla Racing’s Splendora turned in a dazzling performance to kick off Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup card at Del Mar, storming past her favored stablemate Hope Road at the top of the stretch and drawing clear to win the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) by 4 ¾ lengths.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Flavien Prat, the Maryland-bred filly covered seven furlongs in 1:21.79 over a fast track. The victory was Baffert’s 20th career Breeders’ Cup win and second in this race, and it marked Prat’s eighth win at the World Championships.

Splendora raced in the clear early as Haulin Ice led a three-horse battle through an opening quarter in :22.12 before Hope Road took over midway down the backstretch. Prat began to advance outside on Splendora approaching the turn, and when the pair reached even terms with Hope Road at the head of the lane, the response was immediate. Splendora powered past without resistance and drew off with authority to secure her first graded stakes victory.

“I honestly was a bit worried that we might lack some speed because of all the scratches, but the pace was fair and I was able to travel comfortably,” Prat said. “She was going so easily all the way around, and as soon as I got her in the clear, she just gave me a good, strong run.”

Splendora improved to 4-for-4 at Del Mar and won her third straight. Her two defeats prior to the current win streak both came around two turns, including a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita behind fellow Maryland-bred and Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite Seismic Beauty.

“She’s been working really well and she loves this track,” Baffert said. “I told Flavien, when she ran here this summer going six furlongs, she ran an incredible race just sitting off the pace. When he swooped up to the outside today and she took off, it was over.”

Splendora paid $7.80 to win. Vahva (9-1) finished second, capping an exacta that returned $28.40 for one dollar. Hope Road held third.

The win was worth $520,000, increasing Splendora’s earnings to $860,800 and improving her record to 5 wins and 4 seconds from 10 starts.

Bred in Maryland by The Elkstone Group LLC, the 4-year-old daughter of Audible is out of the stakes-winning Frost Giant mare Miss Freeze. Her owners purchased her for $125,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale.