Adare Manor Tackles Males in Pacific Classic

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Adare Manor Tackles Males in Pacific Classic
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Adare Manor wins the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar

Adare Manor  keeps inviting comparisons to two of the mightiest distaffers to compete in California in recent times. When she won back-to-back editions of the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1), she completed two-thirds of what Zenyatta  did in that race. Now, Adare Manor on Aug. 31 will try to emulate Beholder , the only distaff winner in the history of the Pacific Classic (G1).

Nine years ago, Beholder put together wins in the Hirsch and Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Adare Manor could do the same if able to defeat the eight colts and geldings standing in her way. Beholder brought a four-race winning streak into the 2015 Pacific Classic and annihilated the boys by 8 1/4 lengths. Adare Manor's only loss in four starts this year came in the Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

The Beholder was Adare Manor's first outing of the year, and she finished second to Sweet Azteca . Subsequently, Sweet Azteca has captured the Great Lady M. Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos by five lengths and the Aug. 25 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at Del Mar by seven lengths. In Sweet Azteca's five wins, Adare Manor has gotten the closest by three-quarters of a length.

Since then, Adare Manor, a 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo  , has been magnificent for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Shipped to Oaklawn Park, she romped in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) by 5 1/2 lengths. Back home at Santa Anita, she crushed foes in the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) by 4 1/4 lengths before her 2 3/4-length victory in the Hirsch.

Adare Manor has never met males and has never raced as far as the Pacific Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, two more accomplishments she could add to an already impressive resume. She could also earn a berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) because the Pacific Classic is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

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Del Mar's leading jockey, Juan Hernandez, has ridden the Michal Lund Petersen-owned Adare Manor in her last 11 starts. He will be back aboard, and the mare drew post 7. Adare Manor, the leading earner of the field with $2,096,600, is the morning line favorite at 9-5. Beholder was the 2-1 favorite against nine rivals the year she won.

Hernandez has also been riding Reincarnate , a 4-year-old son of Good Magic   and the "other" Baffert entry. Baffert has named Kazushi Kimura on Reincarnate, who drew post 4 and is listed at 20-1 on the morning line. Reincarnate is coming off back-to-back seconds in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and Cougar II Stakes (G3). He has not won since the 2023 Los Alamitos Derby.

Baffert has won the Pacific Classic a record seven times, one more than the late Bobby Frankel.

Dr. Venkman , the least experienced in the Pacific Classic field, is the second choice on the morning line at 5-2. Mark Glatt trains the 4-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper  . Antonio Fresu rides from post 3.

In only five lifetime starts, Dr. Venkman has won three times and finished second twice. After two conditioned victories of more than five lengths each, Dr. Venkman ran second by a head in the Perryville Stakes at Keeneland and second in the Triple Bend Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, both at seven furlongs. In the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar July 27, Dr. Venkman scored by a length over Katonah , another Pacific Classic entrant.

Since Del Mar inaugurated the Pacific Classic in 1991, only three horses have won the San Diego and Pacific Classic: Maximum Security   in 2020, California Chrome   in 2016, and Skimming  twice, in 2000 and 2001. Frankel trained Skimming, and Baffert trained Maximum Security at the time of his Del Mar success.

Trainer Doug O'Neill, who won the 2006 Pacific Classic with Lava Man , has two in this year: Katonah (Tiago Pereira, post 5) and Mixto  (Kyle Frey, post 9). Prior to his San Diego second, Katonah won the Pleasanton Mile in his stakes debut. Mixto ran second in the Pleasanton Mile and has placed in three graded stakes.

John Sadler has trained four of the last six Pacific Classic winners: Flightline   in 2022, Tripoli  in 2021, Higher Power   in 2019, and Accelerate  in 2018. He will saddle 5-1 shot Full Serrano  this year. A stakes winner in his native Argentina, Full Serrano has started only once in the U.S., winning an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar Aug. 3. Reylu Gutierrez will ride from post 6.

Il Miracolo  (Mike Smith, post 1) is the lone shipper. Trained by Antonio Sano, he captured the March 30 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and most recently finished second in the Aug. 17 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park. Il Miracolo is a 4-year-old son of Gun Runner   and a grandson of Candy Ride  . Candy Ride won the 2003 Pacific Classic, setting the track record of 1:59.11, which still stands.

Rounding out the field are multiple stakes winner None Above the Law  and supplemental entrant There Goes Harvard . The latter hasn't won since the 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup.