Plans for Adare Manor undecided after Apple Blossom victory

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Plans for Adare Manor, Flying Connection, and Free Like a Girl, who finished a respective first, second, and third in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom last Saturday at Oaklawn, are to be determined, their respective trainers said Monday.

Adare Manor was a 5 1/2-length winner of the race with a Beyer Speed Figure of 100. She shipped in from Southern California.

“She’s back home, looks good,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “I have no immediate plans for her yet. We’ll let her tell us when she’s ready.”

Adare Manor is a long range prospect for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

“Hopefully, if all goes well,” Baffert said. “That’s why we kept her in training an extra year, running in the Breeders’ Cup. We thought she’s going to get better with age – hopefully to run her in these big races.”

Flying Connection closed from last for second, earning a career-high Beyer of 92. She has won three stakes in her last four starts, her most recent win a wire-to-wire victory in the $100,000 Harry Henson in February at Sunland Park.

Flying Connection trailed for six furlongs of the Apple Blossom.

“She ran a huge race,” said trainer Todd Fincher. “It was a horrible start, kind of got pinched. She’s never been dead last before, so she showed us a new dimension. Like I said, she’s got a big heart. She’s going to try every time. That was an amazing run she put in.”

Fincher said Flying Connection emerged from the race in good order, but plans for her next start have not been determined. Fincher said options that have come up in discussions are the Grade 1, $1 million La Troienne at 1 1/16 miles May 3 at Churchill Downs and the track’s Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff at seven furlongs May 4.

“Both those are options, but it’s only three weeks, so it’s pretty questionable,” Fincher said. “She ran pretty hard.”

Free Like a Girl stalked the pace in the Apple Blossom and for her third-place finish earned a career-high Beyer of 91. She returned Sunday to her base of Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La. Free Like a Girl now has earnings of $1.4 million to rank third on the all-time earnings list for horses bred in Louisiana.

“We knew it was tough going in, we were just trying to get that graded stakes for her broodmare résumé,” said Chasey Deville-Pomier. “We thought it would be a nice spot to try. It was a tough race, now. I was happy she ran the way she did. We know she’s gritty, tries hard all the time.”

Deville-Pomier said Free Like a Girl has been nominated to the La Troienne, but nothing has been determined for her next start.

“She ran her heart out the other day,” she said. “I always take it race by race, see how she comes back, and she’s been her normal, bright self. I don’t know what we’re going to do as far as the next one.”

Wet Paint, a Grade 1-winning closer who finished sixth to wire-to-wire winner Adare Manor in the Apple Blossom, emerged from the race well and was scheduled to go back to the track Wednesday, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday. He said she will return to Churchill Downs this weekend, with plans for her next start to be determined. Wet Paint was making her first start since November.

Grade 2 winner Taxed, who was fifth in the Apple Blossom, came back in good order with plans for her next start to be determined, said trainer Randy Morse. He said she was to ship to Churchill on Wednesday.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.