Bob & Beverly Lewis’ RESPLENDENCY (Tale of the Cat) dueled for the lead from
the start and shook loose at the top of the stretch for a one-length score in
Friday’s $113,550 Monrovia H. at Santa Anita. The Bob Baffert-trained sophomore
filly earned her first stakes score over the sloppy track, completing the 6
1/2-furlong distance in 1:15 1/5 with Casey Fusilier aboard. Originally
scheduled for the turf, the race was switched to the main track and lost its
Grade 3 status, pending a review by American Graded Stakes Committee.
Resplendency, who returned $12.60, $8.40 and $4.60 as the 5-1 third choice in
the nine-horse field, dueled early through a fast opening quarter in :21 2/5 and
began to edge away from her rivals on the far turn, getting the half-mile in :44
1/5. Her challengers stacked up to challenge leaving the bend, but the bay miss
re-rallied to open a clear margin in the stretch and was able to comfortably
withstand the late run of runner-up Puxa Saco (Dehere) for the victory. Market
Garden (Bold Badgett), the 7-5 favorite with an entrymate, was positioned to
challenge turning for home but could never mount a serious rally and finished
another three lengths back in third.
Cyber Slew (Siberian Summer), Delizia (Distant View), Chapeau (Deputy
Minister), Woodlass (Woodman), Coconut Girl (Cryptoclearance) and Spring
Festival (Bertrando) rounded out the order of finish. Belleski (Polish Numbers),
Solar Echo (Spinning World), Shezsospiritual (Fly Till Dawn), Mazella (Mazel
Trick), Valentine Dancer (In Excess [Ire]), Any for Love (Arg) (Southern Halo)
and Very Vegas (Storm Boot) were all scratched.
Out of the Grade 3-placed Doppio Espresso (Java Gold), Resplendency was bred
in Kentucky by Highclere Inc. and sold for $500,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton
Saratoga sale. She finished second in the Torrey Pines S. at Del Mar in
September and improved her record 7-3-2-1 with $158,600 in earnings.
Resplendency has an unnamed juvenile (as of January 1) half-sister by Dynaformer.