In each one Adare Villa In her previous nine wins, she had set or pushed the pace, but in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) on August 3 at Del Mar She proved that she didn’t demand things her way. Instead, she overcame traffic troubles, even briefly running in fifth place—a position she had never won—and won against a very difficult delivery man in Scylla .
Adare Manor is an “Amazon,” in the words of trainer Bob Baffert. And a mare of that size can have trouble getting back up to speed if she’s stopped. But Adare Manor is in her best form ever at age 5, and she’s already proven her versatility in Hirsch, which 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, Hirsch has awarded Adare Manor an automatic, paid entry into the Distaff.
Sent out as 3-5 favourites under regular driver Juan Hernandez, Adare Manor faced a field of seven opponents including two talented drivers. Scylla had a three-win streak at Churchill DownsAnd Quite naughty is the 2023 Eclipse Champion 3-year-old mare.
Scylla gave Adare Manor her toughest test yet, taking the lead early in the 1 1/16-mile race after a slight wobble out of the gate and commanding a moderate pace. Olivia twisted Scylla ran the quarter mile in :23, but the half mile in :46.52 and the six furlongs in 1:10.97.
Adare Manor raced up the track in third place around the first bend and into the straight. Pretty Mischievous, the early finisher, began to pass the other horses and raced out to the outside of Adare Manor heading into the second bend, moving the Baffert mare into fourth place. Meanwhile, Desert Dawn was moving closer between them and for a moment, between calls, she poked her head out in front of the Adare mansion.
Hernandez swung the big mare to the outside, and she responded immediately. Scylla didn’t stop in the lead, however, and it looked like Adare Manor was about to run out. Those big strides didn’t disappoint, as she edged Scylla to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:43.29, with Flight Connection third, Desert Dawn fourth and Pretty Mischievous fifth.
Align whom he trained to win the 2018 Triple Crown, into the National Horseracing Hall of Fame. Baffert has also National treasures (sixth place finisher) in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Track same day as Hirsch.
Baffert trains Adare Manor for owner Michael Lund Petersen. Stud broker Donato Lanni bought the mare for $375,000 at the Ocala Breeders 2-year-old and racehorse auction in June 2021. Adare Manor is currently 3-4 in 2024, having previously run in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park and the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. Her only defeat was a second-place finish in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) in her first start of the season. She won her second at Hirsch, following last year’s over-length victory over Desert Dawn.
The late Clement L. Hirsch, for whom the race is named, was the founder of the Oak Tree Racing Association and a founding member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Jockey Club. Oak Tree added $100,000 to its purse this year, and Adare Manor surpassed 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 at a ceremony on August 2.
Town & Country Horse Farms and Gary Broad bred Adare Manor in Kentucky from Giant Gizmo mare Brooklyn Road . This mare was the tournament winner and earned $724,597.
Adare Villa, King And Sabatini is the 2024 ranked award winner Uncle Mowho applied for a $150,000 scholarship in 2024 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
Videotapes: Clement L. Hirsch S. Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association (G1)
