Adare Manor Soars in Santa Margarita
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Adare Manor adds the Santa Margarita Stakes to her earlier victory this year in the Santa Maria Stakes, both at Santa Anita Park
Trainer Bob Baffert would have enjoyed bantering with football legend Dick Butkus, who presented the trophy at Santa Anita Park after Adare Manor posted an emphatic victory in the June 10 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2). But Baffert was in New York to saddle National Treasure just about an hour later in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Thus, 4-year-old Adare Manor won for her absent connections, but she was nevertheless impressive.
Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez piloted Adare Manor for the fourth consecutive time. Together they now have one second in a March 31 allowance/optional claimer, and two wins in the April 29 Santa Maria Stakes (G2) and the Santa Margarita.
Sent away as the 3-10 favorite in the field of five for the Santa Margarita, Adare Manor bumped with Desert Dawn to her inside at the start, but then sailed to the front easily. That's just where she stayed throughout the 1 1/8 miles.
Kirstenbosch and Desert Dawn raced behind Adare Manor, the two of them running as a pair about a length behind the pacesetter. Adare Manor set comfortable fractions, touring the first quarter-mile in :24.20 and a half-mile in :48.47.
"She is really, really smooth," Hernandez said. "She just took me there, and I just let her go. She was galloping. It was really fun."
The fun never stopped. Adare Manor began drawing away from the others on the second turn, and it became evident that she could win by just about whatever margin she chose. In the stretch it was six lengths, and without Hernandez having to urge her, she crossed the wire 4 1/2 lengths in front of Kirstenbosch, with Desert Dawn third. Adare Manor stopped the timer in 1:49.79.
Butkus spoke admiringly about the athleticism of Hernandez and his colleagues when interviewed following the Santa Margarita presentation.
"Everybody wonders how a little guy of that size can control a big animal like that," Butkus said. "They may sit in that saddle when they get in the gates but after that it isn't until they get to the winner's circle that they get to sit down again. If you can imagine doing squats for whatever the amount of time the horse runs the route—I mean, it is brutal on your legs. So you gotta hand it to these guys. They have to be in shape."
Baffert trains Adare Manor for owner Michael Lund Petersen. The filly broke her maiden by 12 lengths in her third start and returned to capture the 2022 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3). Adare Manor finished second to Desert Dawn by just a neck in the 2022 Santa Anita Oaks (G2), her only other attempt at 1 1/8 miles. Adare Manor also finished second in last year's Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course.
Donato Lanni purchased Adare Manor for $375,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company June 2-Year-Olds and Horses in Training sale from consignor Julie Davies. The filly had gone through two previous sales rings, bringing $180,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale as a weanling, and as a $190,000 RNA at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Selected Yearling Showcase.
Town & Country Horse Farms and Gary Broad bred Adare Manor, a daughter of Uncle Mo —Brooklynsway , by Giant Gizmo , in Kentucky. Brooklynsway's stakes victories included a win in the 2016 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. Adare Manor is the mare's first foal.