Having her first start for trainer Tim Yakteen, Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) tries to remain unbeaten around two turns as the prohibitive favorite in Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks at the Great Race Place.
Second and fourth, respectively, in sprint maidens at this track on Halloween and at Del Mar the following month, the dark bay ran away from Micro Share (Upstart) by a dozen lengths when making her first start around two turns Jan. 7 and made light work of the GIII Las Virgenes S. last time Feb. 6, romping by 13 lengths. Micro Share franked the form of the maiden when graduating by 4 1/2 lengths going a mile Mar. 11, but it's difficult to see her bridging the gap here.
Ain't Easy (Into Mischief) caused an 8-1 surprise on Del Mar debut Aug. 21, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status in the process, then upended the GII Chandelier S. by nearly five lengths Oct. 1. Shelved off that effort, the bay was a useful third–with Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) third–in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 6 and should have some improvement in her.
Desert Dawn (Cupid), fourth in the GI Starlet S. Dec. 5 and again in the Santa Ysabel, is the outsider in the compact field of five.
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