To win seven consecutive races, it takes more than luck; it takes being good.
And good is what Eda , the 4-year-old Munnings filly has been. She pulled away late to take the $125,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) for fillies 3 and up at Del Mar Aug. 27. Her win streak dates back to the 2021 Anoakia Stakes.
“I think this is the distance she likes,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “She’s very competitive. Some horses like to win and they know how to win. … You are lucky to have fillies like this.”
Out of the gate, 13-1 longshot Princess Adaleigh stumbled out of the gate and might have made contact with Muted but that didn’t stop the daughter of Goldencents from surging to the front of the field. With Ramon Vazquez in the irons, she posted early fractions of :21.74 and :45.07.
Moving to the three-eighths pole, Eda, the 4-5 favorite came forward with jockey Juan Hernandez to begin her challenge.
Putting two-plus lengths between her and the pack, Eda came up on the outside of Princess Adaleigh. Reaching the eighth pole, Eda had pulled ahead and under heavy urging only created further distance between her and everyone else to win by a length and a half. She added a fraction of 1:10.06 before crossing the wire in 1:16.49.
Kirstenbosch , Princess Adaleigh, and Lady T round out the top four. Eda paid $3.60 for the win. Baffert had hoped for a 1-2 finish with another of his trainees, Home Cooking . However, the 3-year-old Honor Code filly faded late to finish sixth of seven.
Winning at the 6 1/2-furlong distance of Sunday’s race is nothing new for the bay. But she’s won at a longer distance—the 1 1/16-mile Starlet Stakes (G1) and Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3)—but Baffert said he may not want to mess with a good thing.
“I don’t know yet. It’s one of those things where right now she’s doing everything pretty well. I’d hate to mess with how she’s doing,” he said.
As the winner of the Rancho Bernardo, Eda receives a $15,000 credit toward entry in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park in November.
Owned by Baoma Corp., Eda was bred in Kentucky by Nathan McCauley. She is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Show Me, for whom Eda is her only starter and winner from three foals. Eda was purchased by Donato Lanni, agent, for $550,000 out of the Eddie Woods consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Munnings stands for $100,000 at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky.
Video: Rancho Bernardo H. (G3)
