Versatile Eda tests win streak in Rancho Bernardo

In compiling a six-race winning streak in Southern California since the fall of 2021, Eda has either set the pace or raced within a length of the front. She has won races in classes ranging from an allowance race to a Grade 1 at distances from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.

Eda can be a determined filly as displayed when she repelled a challenge in the stretch to record a hard-fought victory by a neck in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 4.

The victory has left jockey Juan Hernandez confident he can rely on Eda in the stretch of Sunday’s Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar.

With the winning streak, and the role of heavy favorite, Eda is the focus of the $125,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap. From an outside post, she will be prominent early along with Princess Adaleigh, who was third in the Daisycutter Handicap at five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares July 28, and possibly Home Cooking, who like Eda is trained by Bob Baffert.

Hernandez insists he can coax Eda into adapting to whatever scenario develops through the opening quarter-mile. The leading rider at the Del Mar summer meeting, Hernandez has been aboard Eda for her last four starts.

“She’s fast, but at the same time I think I’ll play the break,” Hernandez said on Friday. “I think she can rate behind horses or next to them. If they let me, I’ll go. I’ll take it.”

In the Great Lady M. Stakes, Eda led early, was passed by the longshot Chismosa in the stretch, and rallied again for the win.

“She has a lot of heart,” Hernandez said. “When the other filly tried to get by her she saw her and fought back and won the race. It was a good race.”

Owned by Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp., Eda has been raced sparingly. A 4-year-old filly, she has won 7 of 9 starts and earned $592,600.

Eda is the 124-pound highweight in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap, with Lady T second in the weights at 120 pounds.

Trained by John Shirreffs for the estate of Jerry Moss, Lady T won an allowance race at six furlongs at Del Mar on July 27 in her first start since February. Lady T was always within two lengths of a modest pace and closed with a determined style to win by a neck for her third victory in 13 starts.

Lady T won the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs at Santa Anita last December. Shirreffs has sensed recent improvement from Lady T.

“We’re hoping she’s a little more mentally seasoned in the sense she’s had a few races now,” Shirreffs said. “She’ll be more adaptable.”

The Rancho Bernardo will be the first meeting between Eda and Lady T since they finished first and fourth in the Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in November 2021.

The Arnaz Stakes was Eda’s second win of the active streak.