Adare Manor Rallies to Beat Scylla in Clement L. Hirsch
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Adare Manor wins the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar
In every one of Adare Manor 's nine previous wins, she either set or prompted the pace, but in the Aug. 3 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar she proved she doesn't require everything her own way. Instead, she overcame traffic trouble, for one brief moment even running fifth—a position from which she has never won—and triumphed over a very tough shipper in Scylla .
Adare Manor is an "Amazon," in trainer Bob Baffert's words. And a mare that size can have difficulty revving back up if she is stopped. But Adare Manor is in her best form ever at age 5, and she demonstrated a versatility in the Hirsch that will be a useful arrow in her quiver for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), which will be held at Del Mar. As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the Hirsch gave Adare Manor an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Distaff.
Sent away as the 3-5 favorite under regular rider Juan Hernandez, Adare Manor faced seven rivals that included two talented shippers. Scylla was riding a three-race winning streak at Churchill Downs, and Pretty Mischievous was the 2023 Eclipse Award-winning champion 3-year-old filly.
Scylla gave Adare Manor the toughest challenge, going to the front early in the 1 1/16-mile race after a slight bobble leaving the gate and dictating a moderate pace. Olivia Twist owned the quarter-mile fraction of :23, but Scylla was responsible for a half-mile in :46.52 and six furlongs in 1:10.97.
Adare Manor raced on the rail in third around the first turn and into the backstretch. Pretty Mischievous, last early, began passing horses and ranged up outside of Adare Manor heading into the second turn, moving the Baffert mare into fourth. At the same time, Desert Dawn was edging up between them and briefly, between calls, put her head in front of Adare Manor.
Hernandez swung the big mare to the outside, and she readily responded. Scylla wasn't stopping on the lead, however, and it looked like Adare Manor might run out of ground. Those huge strides didn't fail her, as she swept past Scylla to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:43.29, with Flying Connection third, Desert Dawn fourth, and Pretty Mischievous fifth.
Adare Manor and jockey Juan Hernandez win the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar
"She broke good, but I saw a couple of guys try to get the lead," said Hernandez. "She relaxed pretty well behind the pace. She's one of the best fillies I have ever ridden. She can do everything that you ask her."
Pasqual Rivera, a foreman representing the Baffert barn, also noted that Adare Manor relaxed well.
"I was little worried at the three-eighths pole," Rivera said. "She was still inside, but past the quarter pole when they straightened out into the stretch, she came outside and she started running."
Baffert had a busy weekend, traveling to Saratoga for the induction of Justify , whom he trained to win the 2018 Triple Crown, into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. Baffert also had National Treasure (who finished sixth) in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course the same day as the Hirsch.
Baffert trains Adare Manor for owner Michael Lund Petersen. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni bought the mare for $375,000 at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. Adare Manor is now 3-for-4 in 2024, earlier taking the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park and Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. Her lone loss was a runner-up finish in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) in her first start of the season. She was winning her second Hirsch, following last year's length win over Desert Dawn.
The late Clement L. Hirsch, for whom the race is named, was a founder of the Oak Tree Racing Association and a founding member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Oak Tree added $100,000 to the stakes' purse this year, and Adare Manor went over the $2 million mark in total earnings with the win. Hirsch was also inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Pillar of the Turf in the Aug. 2 ceremony.
Town & Country Horse Farms and Gary Broad bred Adare Manor in Kentucky from the Giant Gizmo mare Brooklynsway . The mare is a graded stakes winner and earner of $724,597.
Adare Manor, Kingsbarns , and Sabatini are 2024 graded stakes winners by Uncle Mo, who stood for a 2024 stud fee of $150,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.