Adare Manor doesn’t have the winning streak that the mighty Zenyatta amassed, but she’s working on it. The Bob Baffert-trained filly has won her last four races, and only three others are daring to take her on in the Oct. 1 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Given Adare Manor’s recent activity, it’s easy to see why the 1 1/16-mile race didn’t draw a full field. All of Adare Manor’s previous rivals are taking a pass except for Desert Dawn , who has traded victories with Adare Manor during their careers. Micro Share hasn’t faced these two in over a year, and Window Shopping is making her first attempt against older distaffers.
The Zenyatta was known as the Lady’s Secret Stakes when Zenyatta won it three times, from 2008-10. It is a major prep for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and is part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen program. Horses finishing 1-2-3 earn a tiered bonus bankroll applicable to Breeders’ Cup entry fees.
The race isn’t the only reminder of Zenyatta, who is represented by a bronze at Santa Anita near the Kingsbury Memorial Fountain. From Oct. 1-9, Santa Anita is running a promotion of a limited edition Zenyatta pin to people either donating $25 to Old Friends Equine or betting $50 through 1/ST Rewards, 1/ST BET, or Xpressbet.
Adare Manor, the 2-5 morning-line favorite, is coming off a victory in another race Zenyatta won three times, the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) Aug. 5 at Del Mar. Her one-length victory already has given her a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In berth to the Distaff. Since returning from a 4 1/2-month layoff by tuning up with a second in a seven-furlong allowance optional claimer Feb. 18 at Santa Anita, Adare Manor has been unstoppable in a March 31 one-mile allowance optional claimer, the April 29 Santa Maria Stakes (G2), and the June 10 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2). Her Santa Maria and Santa Margarita margins were each in excess of four lengths.
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Adare Manor often sets the pace, but Elm Drive took on that role in the Hirsch. Adare Manor stalked in second and ultimately defeated Desert Dawn by a length. Baffert noted that Elm Drive’s tactics “sort of took our filly out of her game a little bit,” but Adare Manor’s class overcame any disadvantage.
“She’s a big, long-jumping filly, and she just got going there at the end,” Baffert said.
Leading rider Juan Hernandez will be back aboard Adare Manor, who drew the rail.
Umberto Rispoli will pilot Desert Dawn for trainer Phil D’Amato from post 3. Desert Dawn defeated Adare Manor in the 2022 Santa Anita Oaks (G2), but ran third to her in the Santa Margarita and second in the Hirsch.
Micro Share lost her second race to Adare Manor in a maiden event at Santa Anita in early 2022. She ran fifth behind Desert Dawn and Adare Manor in the Santa Anita Oaks, but has won her last three races. The most recent came in the Sept. 4 Tranquility Lake Stakes at Del Mar, her first stakes attempt since the Oaks.
Bred by the late Brereton Jones, Micro Share races for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, so will have enthusiastic backers urging her on. Richard Mandella has named Mike Smith to ride from post 2.
Mandella also trains Window Shopping, winner of the June 3 Summertime Oaks (G2) over the same distance and track as the Zenyatta. She ran sixth on the turf in the Aug. 19 Del Mar Oaks (G1T). Hector Berrios is set to ride from post 4.
Entries: Zenyatta S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, October 01, 2023, Race 4
- Grade II
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 3 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares
- 2:33 PM (local)
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