Adare Manor deserves favoritism within the 1 1/16-mile Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) Aug. 3 at Del Mar as a result of she is on prime of her recreation. The 5-year-old mare is again to defend her title, having gained the race final 12 months, and in her two most up-to-date outings she triumphed by daylight in numerous components of the nation.
Nevertheless, a military has amassed in opposition to the Bob Baffert-trained star within the Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection occasion that may grant the winner an computerized, fees-paid berth to the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). Trainers Brendan Walsh and Invoice Mott are delivery in Godolphin’s Fairly Mischievous and Juddmonte’s Scylla , respectively. Each are harmful, with Fairly Mischievous additionally boasting an Eclipse Award because the 2023 champion 3-year-old filly.
Adare Manor, owned by Michael Lund Petersen, has essentially the most lifetime victories of the sector, with 9. They span three seasons of racing and embody seven graded stakes. She is ideal 2-for-3 in 2024. After ending second by simply three-quarters of a size to Candy Azteca within the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) to begin her season, Baffert shipped her to Oaklawn Park for the April 13 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1). She led all through to attain by 5 1/2 lengths. Returned to Santa Anita Park, she trounced a very good discipline within the Might 26 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) by 4 1/4 lengths, the second time she has gained that race.
Like one other distaffer who collected a number of editions of the identical race—Zenyatta —Adare Manor is big.
“She’s an Amazon,” Baffert has mentioned.Join BloodHorse Each day
Adare Manor must win right here and efficiently return within the 2025 Hirsch to match Zenyatta’s report on this race. Whereas her measurement does start to ask comparisons, in a single respect, they’re fully totally different. Zenyatta dropped far again early and closed resolutely, whereas Adare Manor may be devastating on the lead.
Adare Manor, who drew publish 2, has the companies of her common rider, Juan Hernandez, who’s in an early battle with Umberto Rispoli for main jockey at Del Mar.
Fairly Mischievous’ expertise and flexibility make her formidable, and as an added bonus she picks up Rispoli to trip. She drew the skin publish and has but to win this 12 months. She posted back-to-back thirds within the Might 3 La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs and June 8 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, her solely outings in opposition to her elders. Nonetheless, Fairly Mischievous has that championship 3-year-old season, when she gained the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Acorn Stakes (G1), Check Stakes (G1), and Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2).
Scylla, one other 4-year-old shipper, has by no means completed worse than third in seven lifetime begins. She has gained her final three—by seven lengths in allowance non-compulsory claiming firm, by 3 1/4 lengths within the June 1 Shawnee Stakes (G3), and by a neck within the June 29 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), all at Churchill. Mike Smith will trip Scylla for the primary time, and so they drew publish 3.
Smith has been piloting Espresso in Mattress , winner of the April 21 Santa Maria Stakes (G2) and second to Adare Manor within the Santa Margarita. Coach Richard Mandella named Kazushi Kimura to trip from publish 4.
Sugar Fish (Tyler Baze, publish 6) is a 3-year-old going in opposition to older runners for the primary time in a stakes. Skilled by Jeff Mullins, she beat her elders earlier this 12 months in allowance non-compulsory claimer firm after which captured the Summertime Oaks (G2) for 3-year-olds by 9 3/4 lengths.
Coach Todd Fincher brings Flying Connection (Joe Talamo, publish 1), who ran second to Adare Manor within the Apple Blossom. She gained the Harry Henson Handicap at Sunland Park earlier this 12 months, and she or he ran second in final 12 months’s Torrey Pines Stakes (G3), certainly one of 4 begins at Del Mar. Fincher additionally trains Olivia Twist (Reylu Gutierrez, publish 7), a stakes winner at Remington Park.
Desert Daybreak , educated by Phil D’Amato and to be piloted by Antonio Fresu from publish 5, ran second to Adare Manor in final 12 months’s Hirsch and gained this 12 months’s La Canada Stakes (G3). Adare Manor completed forward of fourth-place Desert Daybreak within the March 9 Beholder Mile, and Desert Daybreak ran third within the Santa Maria.
Entries: Clement L. Hirsch S. Introduced by Oak Tree Racing Affiliation (G1)Del Mar, Saturday, August 03, 2024, Race 10Grade I1 1/16mDirt $400,0003 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares6:30 PM (native)