Zenyatta Stakes: Adare Manor a standout in short field

ARCADIA, Calif. – Even if heavily favored Adare Manor wins the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita, a question into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff next month will remain unanswered. What would a Zenyatta victory over three rivals prove?

Only four fillies and mares entered the 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta, and Adare Manor holds all the cards. She is the class of the field, with the highest figures, and could be loose on the lead. Her price will reflect her dominance.

A winner of three straight graded stakes for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Michael Lund Peterson, Adare Manor is listed at 2-5 by track linemaker Jon White. The filly should lead gate to wire under Juan Hernandez. The Zenyatta is race 4, opening leg of the pick six.

Rivals include Grade 2 winner Desert Dawn, the Phil D’Amato trainee who is the only filly to defeat Adare Manor in a California route; Richard Mandella entered restricted stakes winner Micro Share and Grade 2 winner Window Shopping.

Adare Manor’s recent win in the Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar was her first Grade 1 and sixth win from 12 starts. Although she was fully extended to win by a length, and her Beyer Speed Figure declined four points to 94, Adare Manor ran better than it looked.

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Hernandez hustled Adare Manor to prevent quick front-runner Elm Drive from stealing away. The aggressive strategy took Adare Manor out of her game and also insured her win. Under a drive into the stretch, Adare Manor reeled in Elm Drive and held off Desert Dawn.

Sunday in the Zenyatta, Adare Manor faces less pace and could be loose on easy fractions. Meanwhile, her main rival is compromised by field size and pace.

Desert Dawn defeated Adare Manor in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks in 2022, but is winless in eight starts since while finishing in the money in six. Circumstances often conspire against late-runner Desert Dawn.

“She’s a filly that would appreciate a big, giant field with a lot of pace to run at,” D’Amato said. “She did get a good pace to run at last time, and she nearly got it done. She’s the kind of filly in a 14-horse field [with pace] she can win a big race.”

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Desert Dawn, an Arizona-bred owned by H & E Ranch, would hope for that scenario Nov. 4 in the BC Distaff. Umberto Rispoli rides Desert Dawn.

Micro Share tops the Mandella-trained duo. She has won three straight, including a restricted stakes last out at Del Mar.

“Just a filly that kind of grew up, and came to herself,” Mandella said. “It’s time to try” better company.

Mike Smith rides Micro Share.

Mandella also entered Window Shopping, the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks winner in June at Santa Anita but unplaced in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on turf.

“We’ll hope the dirt brings the best out,” Mandella said, referring to Sunday. Hector Berrios rides Window Shopping.

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