Adare Manor runs away with Apple Blossom Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Adare Manor indicated her intent to be a major force in this year’s distaff division on Saturday when she bounded to a 5 1/2-length win in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

“She was awesome,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said.

Adare Manor also gave Baffert and her regular rider, Juan Hernandez, a sweep of the Southwest region’s two Grade 1 races with the victory. Last month, the men invaded from their Southern California base and won the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby with Muth.

Adare Manor established herself as a formidable filly last year, when she won four graded races during a streak of five straight wins that included the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar. Her connections brought her back this year at 5 and, after running a fast-closing second in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at home at Santa Anita, she invaded Oaklawn for what long has been one of the most significant races on the calendar for her division.

“The Apple Blossom, it’s very important for fillies and mares, and for me, as a trainer,” Baffert said.

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Adare Manor ($3.40) moved to the lead soon after the start as the race’s 123-pound highweight and proceeded to set fractions of 23.68 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.95 for the half-mile and 1:11.14 for six furlongs. She separated herself from her rivals through the lane, while covering the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.48.

“She’s an amazon,” Baffert said. “When she made the lead and I saw those ears come up, I thought, ‘I think this is over.’ She looked like American Pharoah there, just cruising.”

Flying Connection closed from last for second at 26-1, while it was another three-quarters of a length back in third to millionaire Free Like a Girl. Wet Paint, the other Grade 1 winner in the field alongside Adare Manor, is a confirmed closer who finished sixth in her first start since November.

Baffert said owner Michael Lund Petersen asked him about keeping Adare Manor in training this year at 5 and the owner ultimately decided to continue to race Adare Manor.

“We discussed it and I said, ‘I think there’s more to her and she’ll get better. She’s so big.’ We talked about it, giving her a chance. She’s really going to get better with age, better if we went another year. He agreed. He really enjoys watching her run.”

Baffert said plans going forward for Adare Manor will be determined. He said she is scheduled to return home to Southern California on Sunday.

Adare Manor is a daughter of Uncle Mo who has now won 8 of 16 starts for earnings of $1,736,600.

Baffert also swept the Arkansas Derby and Apple Blossom in 2012, with Bodemeister and Plum Pretty. The races are among the richest of the meet. The third and final seven-figure race of the meet is next Saturday with the running of the Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap. Baffert said he could send in Reincarnate.

“I’m blessed to have all these good horses,” Baffert said. “I’m proud of them all.”

The three rich stakes are part of the annual Racing Festival of the South, when Oaklawn runs a series of major stakes over the final portion of the season. The meet continues through May 5.

Handle on the 12-race card Saturday was $12.8 million, according to figures from the track. Attendance was an estimated 38,000 on a beautiful day that reached about 70 degrees in temperature.

Racing resumes Sunday.

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