Resplendence makes all in Cincinnati Trophy

The $174,800 Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park on Friday night played out in similar fashion for Resplendence to her maiden win on Jan. 15. Breaking sharp from post 1, Resplendence led her rivals on a merry chase through slow fractions and refused to stop.

Sent off at 11-1 in the Cincinnati Trophy off that six-length graduation, which was her fourth career start, Resplendence captured her stakes debut by 2 3/4 lengths under Alberto Bugos. A homebred racing for Bonne Chance Farm, the Paulo Lobo trainee covered one mile on Tapeta in 1:40.69 and paid $25.42.

Next under the wire in the strung-out field was Lovely Grey, who had a five-length margin on Resist. It was 3 3/4 lengths back to Rip Current, who finished a neck in front of Map of the Moon.

The 11-filly Cincinnati Trophy was marred by an injury sustained by even-money favorite Dame Laura around the first turn. She was vanned off.

Resplendence earned 20 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1) by winning the Cincinnati Trophy. Lovely Grey earned 10 points, Resist six points, Rip Current four points, and Map of the Moon two points.

A daughter of Justify, Resplendence went unplaced in her first two starts, both of which were on the grass. She turned a corner, however, in her third start, losing a maiden race over the dirt Horseshoe Indianapolis by a nose.

"I thought she was my best filly over the summer, but after her first couple of races I knew I had to back off on her," Lobo said. "Once we got her over the all-weather, she really made an improvement."

A Kentucky-bred, Resplendence was reared by Paradise Alley, a daughter of Flower Alley and Canadian Horse of the Year Sealy Hill.