Adare Manor favored over good group in Clement L. Hirsch

ARCADIA, Calif. – The best filly or mare in California has a home-field advantage Saturday at Del Mar, but the visitors are loaded in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes.

Adare Manor will be tough to beat in the Hirsch, a historically predictable race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Favorites have won 15 of the last 24, Adare Manor’s up-front style keeps her clear from trouble, and she won the Hirsch last year and both her recent starts by open lengths.

However, the Hirsch field is deep with Midwest shippers and local comebackers. The shippers include Pretty Mischievous, 2023 champion 3-year-old filly and Kentucky Oaks winner; Scylla, who won a Grade 2 last out; and Flying Connection, who could keep Adare Manor company early.

The locals are Desert Dawn, a two-time Hirsch runner-up who posted a super team work last week for her comeback; Coffee in Bed, a Grade 2 winner returning from a short layoff; and Sugar Fish, who meets older after a nine-length Grade 2 romp over 3-year-old fillies. Olivia Twist also is entered.

The $400,000 Hirsch is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

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Bob Baffert trains Adare Manor, who enters off wins in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park and Grade 2 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita. She is 9 for 17 with earnings of $1,856,600. As the probable pacesetter under Juan Hernandez, Adare Manor figures to be strongly favored.

The main upset candidates are Pretty Mischievous, Desert Dawn, and Scylla. Pretty Mischievous arrived from Kentucky one week ago. Trainer Brendan Walsh is hoping for pace to flatter her closing rally.

“We thought there’s possibly going to be more pace out there than what we’ve been dealing with back here,” Walsh said.

Pretty Mischievous has finished third in both starts this year, the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs and Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Saratoga.

“The first race at Churchill, it was sloppy and she probably needed the race,” Walsh said. “There was a major lack of pace at Saratoga, and it didn’t work out for her.”

Pretty Mischievous has continued to work well, but the Hirsch pace scenario is uncertain. Unless Flying Connection or Olivia Twist produce speed, Adare Manor could have things her own way.

Umberto Rispoli rides Pretty Mischievous. Walsh said she has improved at age 4.

“She’s a bigger, stronger filly now. She’s changed a lot since she was out there at the Breeders’ Cup last year. She’s bigger, stronger, looks like an older mare now. I think she’s as good as she’s ever been, maybe even better.”

Pretty Mischievous shipped to Santa Anita last fall for the BC Distaff, but scratched.

“She came to the end of a long year, and it just hit her pretty hard when we shipped out there,” Walsh said. “She shipped great this time.”

Pretty Mischievous has won 7 of 12, including three Grade 1s.

Desert Dawn, the Hirsch runner-up the past two years, was freshened after her most recent start in April. Few expected her to return this soon, including trainer Phil D’Amato.

“About three weeks ago she gave me signs like she should make this race, no problem. She was only out for 30 days, and she didn’t lose much.”

Antonio Fresu rides Desert Dawn, who worked a blazing 58.40 in company last week with Shady Tiger, the favorite in the Real Good Deal Stakes on Friday.

“It was a sensational work,” D’Amato said, confident Desert Dawn will fire in her comeback. He acknowledged the pace scenario. “We need a little help softening up Adare Manor,” D’Amato said.

Desert Dawn has won three races and $998,525 from 21 starts.

Scylla, trained in Kentucky by Bill Mott, arrives after winning two graded stakes at Churchill. Mike Smith rides Scylla, a full sibling to multiple Grade 2 winner Tacitus and Grade 3 winner Batten Down. Scylla has won five races and $721,045 from seven starts.

Sugar Fish is up against it as the only 3-year-old. She romped by more than nine lengths last out in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on June 8 at Santa Anita. Sugar Fish is using the Hirsch as a bridge.

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“She needs a race. We’re going to ship her out after this race,” trainer Jeff Mullins said, referring to the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion on Sept. 21 at Parx.

Tyler Baze is her rider.

Coffee in Bed won the Grade 2 Santa Maria two starts back. She finished second to Adare Manor in late May. The Hirsch is the first start in more than two months for Coffee in Bed. She has trained well into the Hirsch.

“I think she’s better than she’s been,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

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