Baffert impressed by Adare Manor's victory in Clement Hirsch
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Adare Manor’s eighth career stakes win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar was one of her finest, in the opinion of her Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Watching from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where he ran National Treasure in the Whitney, Baffert saw Adare Manor close from fourth along the inside on the backstretch, and rally wide on the turn under jockey Juan Hernandez before pulling clear by 2 3/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite.
“That was very impressive,” Baffert said on Sunday. “Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Juan rode with a lot of confidence.
“She got the job done.”
Adare Manor, 5, typically races on the lead or as a stalker. In the $401,500 Hirsch, she trailed pacesetter Scylla by four lengths on the backstretch while racing inside of key rivals.
Owned by Michael Petersen, Adare Manor has won 10 of 18 starts. The winner’s share of $240,000 in the Hirsch pushed Adare Manor’s career earnings to $2,096,600.
With the win, Adare Manor secured a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 2. Last November, Adare Manor was fifth in the BC Distaff at Santa Anita.
Earlier in 2023, Adare Manor won her first Grade 1 in the Clement Hirsch. She followed it with a victory by 5 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in early October before the loss in the BC Distaff.
On Sunday, Baffert was hesitant to plan whether Adare Manor would start in the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes on Sept. 29 in advance of the BC Distaff.
The Hirsch was Adare Manor’s third consecutive stakes win, preceded by the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 13 and the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita on May 26. She has won the three stakes by a combined 12 lengths.
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