Adare Manor repeats for Baffert, Hernández in Santa Margarita

For the second year in a row Adare Manor cruised to a
front-running victory Sunday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes, a
1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Dispatched at 1-9, Adare Manor broke in front under Juan
Hernández and never was challenged on her way to a 4 1/4-length victory over
runner-up Coffee in Bed (10-1). In last year’s Santa Margarita, Adare Manor and
Hernández led from gate to wire to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.

“She was training great for this,” said trainer Bob Baffert,
who has won the Santa Margarita three times. “She had a big effort last time,
but she handled it well, and I thought this was a good spot. Won’t be another
spot ’til we get to Del Mar for a while. We just really enjoy her, and that’s
why (owner) Michael Lund Petersen is in the business to watch his horses run.
He says he needs more, so we’re going to buy him some. He needs more action.”

The last repeat winner of the Santa Margarita was Hall of
Famer Bayakoa in 1989 and 1990.

Adare Manor won with a final time of 1:50.86 on the fast
main track after being allowed to set a moderate pace. Fractions for the race
were 23.65, 48.77, 1:12.97 and 1:37.76.

“She broke really sharp out of the gate,” Hernández said. “I
didn’t ask her. I just let her go. She loves to run behind the pace, but today
I was the pace, so she wanted to go. I let her go. She was a little aggressive
out of the gate, she relaxed, took a breath and just kept on going. Today, she
just was trying to go a little earlier.”

Hennys Crazy Train (26-1), with Héctor Berrios up for
trainer John Sadler, finished third, a half-length behind Coffee in Bed. Super
Shine finished last of four, another 10 lengths up the track.

Adare Manor is 17: 9-5-0 with six stakes wins and $1,856,600
in earnings. In two previous starts this year, the 5-year-old Uncle Mo mare won
the Apple Blossom (G1) on April 13 at Oaklawn and was second in the Beholder
Mile (G2) on March 9 at Santa Anita.

Last year, in addition to the Santa Margarita, Adare Manor won
the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar and the Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita.

After the veterinarian scratch of Blue Dream Machine, there
was no show wagering. Adare Manor paid $2.10 and $2.10. Coffee in Bed returned
$2.60 to place.