Adare Manor © Benoit Photo
Michael Lund Petersen’s Adare Manor captured the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes for the second year in a row as the highlight of a special afternoon of racing dubbed Oak Tree Day at Del Mar.
The charity group – which specializes in its role of being horsemen who help horsemen – sprinkled funds and good feelings throughout the day at the shore oval, including their backing of the $401,500 purse of the Hirsch, a mile and one-sixteenth on the main track that the 3/5 favorite Adare Manor won smartly by two and three quarters lengths.
The 54th edition of the race is also a Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” event that guarantees the winner free entry into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, which will be run this year at Del Mar on Saturday, November 2.
Del Mar’s leading rider, Juan Hernandez, handled “Manor” with expert care, easing her through some tight quarters on the far turn, then sending her on her way to another impressive tally. The 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo earned $240,00 for her efforts which increased her husky bankroll to $2,096,600. It was her 10th victory in her 18th trip to the post.
Finishing second in the Hirsch was Juddmonte’s Scylla, shipped in by trainer Bill Mott from her Kentucky base. Running third, another two lengths back, was Andrews, Cone or King, et al’s shipper Flying Connection.
Earlier on the card Harris Farm’s On the Whim proved best by a length and a quarter in a surprise in the 19th running of the California Dreamin’ Stakes, a mile and one sixteenth on the turf course that is limited to California-bred 3-year-olds and up.
The homebred 4-year-old gelding by Acclamation covered the distance in 1:41.44 under Abel Cedillo and returned an even $22 to his backers in the Saturday gathering. Veteran Dean Pederson trains the winner.
Finishing second in the Cal-bred feature was Three Kings Racing or Victory Rose Thoroughbreds’ Proof He Rides, who was a half length better than Hector Castrellon’s None Above the Law.
Racing is on again at Del Mar Sunday with the usual 2 p.m. first post. There will be a pair of stakes on the card – the La Jolla Handicap and the CTBA Stakes.
JUAN HERNANDEZ (Adare Manor, winner) –“She broke good and relaxed so I was happy. This wasn’t a perfect trip for her, but it was fine. She’s not bothered by the kick back so where we were was OK. I rode her with a lot of confidence; she was running with a lot of confidence. We made our way through that little bit of trouble we had and she was off and running. She is one of the best fillies I’ve ever ridden.”
PASQUAL RIVERA (A foreman at the Bob Baffert barn) (Adare Manor, winner) – “She ran a good race. She was relaxed inside. We didn’t want to go with the longshot. I was little worried at the three-eighths pole. She was still inside but past the quarter pole when they straightened out into the stretch she came outside and she started running.”
FRACTIONS: :23.00 :46.52 1:10.97 1:36.82 1:43.29
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Hernandez. He won this same race last year with Adare Manor. He now has 45 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Baffert. It is his third win in the stakes, including last year with the same horse. He now has a Del Mar record 169 stakes wins.
The winning owner is Michael Lund Petersen of Reisterstown, MD.