Adare Manor Faces Formidable Group At Del Mar’s Hirsch

Adare Villa deserves to be favored in the 1 1/16-mile Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) on August 3 at Del Mar because she is at the peak of her form. The 5-year-old mare is back to defend her title, after winning the race last year, and in her last two appearances she has won in daylight at various places around the country.

However, a field has rallied against the Bob Baffert-trained star in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series event that will award the winner a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on November 2. Trainers Brendan Walsh and Bill Mott are shipping in Godolphin’s Quite naughty and Juddmonte Scylla respectively. Both are dangerous, with Pretty Mischievous also boasting the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old mare in 2023.

Adare Manor, owned by Michael Lund Petersen, has the most wins in her lifetime, with nine. They span three racing seasons and include seven graded events. She is a perfect 2-for-3 in 2024. After finishing second by just three-quarters of a length Sweet Azteca In the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) to start her season, Baffert moved her to Oaklawn Park for the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on April 13. She led throughout the race to score by 5 1/2 lengths. Back Santa Anita ParkShe defeated a strong opponent in the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) on May 26 by 4 1/4 horse lengths, the second time she had won that race.

Like another saboteur who collected multiple versions of the same race—Zenyatta —Adare Manor is very large.

Adare Manor will need to win here and return to the Hirsch in 2025 to match Zenyatta’s record in this race. While their size starts to invite comparisons, in some ways they are quite different. Zenyatta is well behind from the start and finishes resolutely, while Adare Manor can wreak havoc in the lead.

Adare Manor, who finished in second place, had the services of regular rider Juan Hernandez, who is vying with Umberto Rispoli for the leading rider spot at Del Mar.

Pretty Mischievous’ talent and versatility make her a formidable contender, and as an added bonus, she chose Rispoli to ride. She has drawn outside posts and has yet to win this year. She posted her third straight in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs and June 8 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race TrackHer only outing was against older competition. However, Pretty Mischievous had a championship 3-year-old season, winning the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Acorn Stakes (G1), Test Stakes (G1) and Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2).

Scyllaanother 4-year-old filly who has never finished worse than third in seven starts in her career. She has won her last three—by seven lengths in the Optional Allowance Claiming Company, by 3 1/4 lengths in the June 1 Shawnee Stakes (G3), and by a neck in the June 29 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), all at Churchill. Mike Smith will ride Scylla for the first time, and they are tied for third.

Smith test drove Coffee in bed winner of the Santa Maria Stakes (G2) on April 21 and second to Adare Manor at the Santa Margarita. Trainer Richard Mandella has appointed Kazushi Kimura to ride from the No. 4 position.

Sugar Fish (Tyler Baze, post 6) is a 3-year-old who is racing against older horses for the first time. Trained by Jeff Mullins, he beat older horses earlier this year in the company of an allowance exemption and then won the Summertime Oaks (G2) for 3-year-olds by 9 3/4 lengths.

Coach Todd Fincher brings Flight Connection (Joe Talamo, 1st), who finished second to Adare Manor in the Apple Blossom race. She won the Harry Henson Handicap at Sunland Park earlier this year, and she finished second in last year’s Torrey Pines Stakes (G3), one of four starts at Del Mar. Fincher also trains Olivia twisted (Reylu Gutierrez, 7th post), winner at Remington Park.

Desert Dawn Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Antonio Fresu from No. 5, he finished second to Adare Manor in the Hirsch last year and won this year’s La Canada Stakes (G3). Adare Manor finished fourth ahead of Desert Dawn in the Beholder Mile on March 9, and Desert Dawn finished third in the Santa Maria.