Another weekend, another female taking on the boys in a major horse race. This time it’s Bob Baffert-trained Adare Manor in Saturday’s $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) — the most prestigious race of the summer season at Del Mar.
Adare Manor. Benoit Photo.
Adare Manor will take on the boys in the Pacific Classic
The 5-year-old mare was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine, which includes 5-2 second choice Dr. Venkman, 5-1 Tall Serrano, and 20-1 Reincarnate, a second Baffert entry.
Last Saturday (Aug. 24), top 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna ran against the boys in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and finished a fast-closing second by a nose to Fierceness. The day before (Aug. 23), the filly Kaitlinhergrtness upset the boys in the $1 million King’s Plate at Woodbine.
The 1 ¼-mile Pacific Classic is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ race to the $7 million BC Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
A daughter of Uncle Mo, Adare Manor worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.40 at on Aug. 24.
“She really likes a mile and an eighth and she’s a big filly,” her regular rider Juan Hernandez told drf.com. “I don’t see any problem with the distance.”
Adare Manor, an imposing dark bay purchased for $375,000 by Michael Lund Peterson, comes into the Pacific Classic with a three-race win streak, most recently the 1 1/16-mile Clement L, Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar on Aug. 3. Adare Manor, a front-runner who also can stalk the pace, is 3-of-4 with a second in 2024 and overall has a record of 18-10-5-0 for earnings of $2,096,600
Baffert Saddles a Pair
Baffert, seeking a record extending eighth win in this race, also entered Reincarnate, who is 0-for-6 and last won more than a year ago, taking the 2023 Los Alamitos Stakes on July 8. He ran second in the Cougar II Stakes (G3) at Del Mar on July 25.
Dr. Venkman, a lightly raced 4-year-old gelding trained by Mark Glatt, was a front-running winner of the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap (G2) on July 27 in his fifth career start – he’s 5-3-2-0 with earnings of $358,500.
Six-year-old There Goes Harvard (20-1) was supplemented to the 34th edition of the Pacific Classic for $15,000 by new owners Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred and Gary Barber. The chestnut has run only four times in the past two years (with no top 3 finishes) but owns a win in the 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1).
For those who bet horse racing, under the conditions, Adare Manor receives a five-pound weight allowance and will carry 119 pounds; her eight rivals carry 124.
Post time for the Pacific Classic is 9:05 p.m. ET.
Two other BC “Win and You’re In’’ races are on the card: the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap (BC Turf) and the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap (BC Turf Sprint).
The picks: 1 Adare Manor 2 Katonah 3 Dr. Venkman
The field for the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Il Miracolo (Mike Smith, Antonio Sano), 8-1
2 There Goes Harvard (Hector Berrios, Michael McCarthy), 20-1
3 Dr. Venkman (Antonio Fresu, Mark Glatt), 5-2
4 Reincarnate (Kazushi Kimura, Bob Baffert), 20-1
5 Katonah (Tiago Pereira, Doug O’Neill), 8-1
6 Full Serrano (Reylu Gutierrez, John Sadler), 5-1
7 Adare Manor (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 9-5
8 None Above The Law (Jeremy Laprida, Jorge Periban), 15-1
9 Misto (Kyle Frey, Doug O’Neill), 12-1
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