Adare Manor Cruises in Zenyatta

Adare Manor did just what she was supposed to do in the Oct. 1 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, gliding home an easy winner. Her facile triumph over three others likely earned her a chance in the Breeders' Cup, according to trainer Bob Baffert. "We wanted to see something like this if we were going to take a crack at the Breeders' Cup," Baffert said. "If she comes out of it well, we'll go for it. I think she deserves it. There are some good fillies out there." A prep for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), the Zenyatta 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. Adare Manor already has a "Win & You're In" berth to the Distaff from the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1). Only three dared to take on Adare Manor in the 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta. The big 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo had won four consecutive races, three of them graded and two by more than four lengths. Not surprisingly, she went off as the 1-10 favorite. Adare Manor often sets the pace, but in the Hirsch, Elm Drive sped to the front, resulting in "only" a length victory by Adare Manor. In the Zenyatta, Adare Manor had no competition on the front end, and the race was over as soon as the gate opened. For the record, Adare Manor and jockey Juan Hernandez toured the Santa Anita oval in fairly easy fractions. She completed the first quarter-mile in :23.71, followed by a half-mile in :47.91 and six furlongs in 1:11.96. Desert Dawn and Micro Share swapped spots in second and third midway through, but it was all a scuffle for the place spot. Adare Manor turned for home well in hand, and Hernandez brought her under the wire 5 1/4 lengths ahead of Desert Dawn, a margin that probably could have been wider had Hernandez really asked. Adare Manor stopped the timer in 1:43.70. Micro Share finished third, with Window Shopping well back in fourth. "Today she broke on her own—I didn't even have to push her," Hernandez said. "She was just galloping around on the lead, and I didn't do much today." Donato Lanni purchased Adare Manor for $375,000 for owner Michael Lund Petersen at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company June 2-year-old sale from consignor Julie Davies. "I remember when Donato Lanni bought her," said Baffert. "She was a big, growthy filly. We took our time with her and have been patient with her. Every time I saddle her, she seems like she's getting bigger." Baffert also said the team is considering running Adare Manor next year as a 5-year-old. Town & Country Horse Farms and Gary Broad bred Adare Manor in Kentucky from the stakes-winning Giant Gizmo mare Brooklynsway. Adare Manor is the mare's first starter. Brooklynsway's 2022 Ghostzapper filly sold to Boardshorts for $500,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September yearling sale. Adare Manor is one of 13 2023 black-type winners sired by Uncle Mo, the others include Pacific Classic (G1) winner Arabian Knight and Beholder Mile (G1) winner A Mo Reay. The stallion's earlier stakes winners include champion Nyquist, the sire of Slow Down Andy, who won the Sept. 30 Awesome Again Stakes (G1). Uncle Mo stood in 2023 for a stud fee of $150,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.