Adare Manor dominated the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) May 26 at Santa Anita so thorough that the race had no drama at all. What it does offer, however, is the opportunity to witness a big, beautiful mare doing what she was bred to do.
A professional breakthrough for jockey Juan Hernandez, Adare Manor capitalized on his win in the April 13 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park to win back-to-back and back-to-back Santa Margaritas. Adare Manor places itself in the group of champions Bayakoa (ARG)the last horse to take down Santa Margaritas in succession, in 1989-90.
After Hernandez got Adare Manor out of the gate, the driver had an easy time passing in the 1 1/8-mile race. They took the lead in the four-horse field, reaching the first quarter mile in :23.65. Henny’s Crazy Train And super shine ran as the second runner-up, with Coffee in bed close fourth.
Super Shine took a shot at Adare Manor on turn two, and Henny’s Crazy Train tried shortly after. Coffee in Bed, who runs off the pace and most recently captured the Santa Maria Stakes (G2), closed this time around. But all three decided to fight for second place, with Adare Manor coming home the easiest winner by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:50.86. Coffee in Bed finished second, half a length ahead of Henny’s Crazy Train.
“She likes to slow down,” Hernandez said. “But today I was the fast runner so she wanted to go. I let her go. She was a little aggressive coming out of the gate. She relaxed, took a breath and just kept going.”
Bob Baffert trains 5-year-old Adare Manor for owner Michael Lund Petersen. While Baffert said she was training well and expressed confidence in her performance, he did not take the win for granted.
“She has to come out of the gate very well,” Baffert said. “I’m always worried they’ll stumble – you think the worst. Once she leaves there – they go quite slowly. She’s not used to walking that slow. I know she’ll get better with age, And I’m glad he did.” keep her in training for another year.”
By winning Apple Blossom and Santa Margarita in the same season, Adare Manor could start to draw comparisons with others with similar achievements. Champion Zenyatta And Azerbaijan won both races in 2010 and 2002 respectively.
With Santa Margarita this year, Adare Manor won the seventh award of his career. She has nine wins and five seconds in 17 starts and is approaching $2 million in earnings. Adare Manor is a relative bargain for Petersen after Donato Lanni purchased her for owners at the Ocala Breeders’ June 2, 2021 sale for $375,000.
Town & Country Horse Farm and Gary Broad have bred Adare Manor in Kentucky since Giant gizmos Brooklynsway mare. Adare Manor and Kingsbarns is a 2024 graded stakes winner by Uncle Mo who represents the advertised student fee of $150,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
Videotapes: Santa Margarita S. (G2)
