Eda's win streak climbs to 7 with Rancho Bernardo Handicap
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Eda extended her winning streak to seven races over the last 22 months with a stalking trip in Sunday’s Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at Del Mar.
Sent off favored, Eda ($3.60) was confidently handled by leading rider Juan Hernandez, who kept the 4-year-old filly near pacesetter Princess Adaleigh for more than a half-mile before taking the lead in early stretch.
Eda led by a length with a furlong remaining, and won the $126,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths for her sixth career stakes win for owners Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp. and trainer Bob Baffert.
Eda ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.49 and ran a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96.
“This is the distance she likes,” Baffert said. “She’s very competitive. Some horses like to win.”
Princess Adaleigh (13-1) set a solid early pace of 21.74 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.07 for a half-mile before conceding the lead.
Kristenbosch (9-2) closed from sixth to finish second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of Princess Adaleigh. Kristenbosch broke slowly, which cost her any chance for an upset, according to jockey Hector Berrios.
“She broke slow,” Berrios said. “I think if she was closer, she might have won.”
Princess Adaleigh finished third, followed by Lady T, Violent Runner, Home Cooking and Muted.
Eda’s winning streak began with the Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita in October 2021 and includes the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos in December 2021.
This year, Eda has won three races, including the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 4.
Baffert said in the winner’s circle that he considers Eda as a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
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