Adare Manor won the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar for the second straight year. (Evers/Eclipse Sportswie)
In every one of Adare Manor 's nine previous wins, she either set or prompted the pace, but in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association Aug. 3 at Del Mar, she proved she doesn't require everything to go her own way. Instead, she overcame traffic trouble and triumphed over a very tough shipper in Scylla to get the victory.
Adare Manor is an "Amazon," in trainer Bob Baffert's words. A mare that size can have difficulty revving back up if she is stopped in traffic. But Adare Manor is in her best form ever at age 5, and she demonstrated versatility in the Hirsch. That ability will be a useful arrow in her quiver for this fall's Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, which will be held at Del Mar.
The Clement Hirsch was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" race, and the win gave Adare Manor an automatic, fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Sent off as the 3-5 favorite under regular rider Juan Hernandez, Adare Manor faced seven rivals including two talented shippers, Scylla, who was riding a three-race winning streak, and Pretty Mischievous, the 2023 Eclipse Award-winning champion 3-year-old filly.
Scylla gave Adare Manor the toughest challenge, going to the front early in the 1 1/16-mile race after a slight bobble leaving the gate and dictating a moderate pace. Olivia Twist owned the quarter-mile fraction of :23, but Scylla was responsible for a half-mile in :46.52 and six furlongs in 1:10.97.
Adare Manor raced on the rail in third around the first turn and into the backstretch. Pretty Mischievous, last early, began passing horses and ranged up outside of Adare Manor heading into the second turn, moving the Baffert filly into fourth. At the same time, Desert Dawn was edging up between them and briefly, between calls, put her head in front of Adare Manor. Hernandez then swung the big mare to the outside, and she readily responded.
Scylla wasn't stopping on the lead, and it looked like Adare Manor might run out of ground, but Adare Manor's huge strides didn't fail her as she swept past Scylla to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:43.29. Flying Connection finished third, Desert Dawn fourth, and Pretty Mischievous fifth.
"She broke good, but I saw a couple of guys try to get the lead," said Hernandez. "She relaxed pretty well behind the pace. She's one of the best fillies I have ever ridden. She can do everything that you ask her."
Baffert had a busy weekend, traveling to Saratoga for the induction of Triple Crown winner Justify into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. Baffert also had National Treasure finish sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on the same day as the Hirsch.
The late Clement L. Hirsch, for whom the race is named, was a founder of the Oak Tree Racing Association and a founding member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Oak Tree added $100,000 to the stakes' purse this year, and Adare Manor went over the $2 million mark in total earnings with the win.
2024 Clement L. Hirsch S. Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association August 3rd, 2024
