By Sue Finley
Adare Manor (Uncle Mo), a winner of her last three races–two of them Grade Is–has been entered in the Pacific Classic, said her trainer Bob Baffert.
The five-year-old mare has run four times this year, finishing second in the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita March 9 before taking the GI Apple Blossom, GI Santa Margarita, and GI Clement L. Hirsch, has won 10 of 18 starts, three Grade Is, and over $2 million.
She came from off the pace to win the Clement Hirsch, and Baffert said that the filly had been doing so well that he was encouraged to enter her in the Pacific Classic.
“It wasn't the plan,” said Baffert. “I was going to run her in the Clement Hirsch and then the Zenyatta and then the Breeders' Cup, like last year, but I've been watching her closely and she came out of the last race really well. She had a different style of running the other day, she sat back, and she's doing really well.”
The media frenzy surrounding Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna)'s Travers bid against the boys may have dissauded Baffert from making a premature announcement.
“I didn't want to say anything,” said Baffert. “She was doing well, but I didn't want to get backed into a corner, and if you say you're going to run, there's that pressure of running, and I didn't want that pressure. But she looks great, she worked really well, so i thought if you're going to take a chance in one of the races here, I think she should like the mile and a quarter. She's a big mare, a big strong mare, so we'll just see what happens and hopefully when they turn for home I don't say `oh, that was a bad idea.'”
When post positions for the Pacific Classic were drawn Tuesday, Adare Manor drew post seven and was installed the 9-5 morning-line favorite.
The field for the Pacific Classic, from the rail out, is Il Miracolo (Gun Runner), There Goes Harvard (Will Take Charge), Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper), Reincarnate (Good Magic), Katonah (Klimt), Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast), Adare Manor, None Above the Law (Karakontie {Jpn}), and Mixto (Good Magic).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
