Adare Manor rolls by double-digits in Las Virgenes S. (G3)
Adare Manor dominated her competition in Sunday’s $200,000 Las Virgenes S. (G3), drawing off with authority in the stretch to win the one-mile contest by 13 lengths.
Three-year-old Adare Manor is owned by Michael Lund Petersen and is Bob Baffert’s record sixth Las Virgenes winner.
Ridden by John Velazquez on Sunday, Adare Manor chased Gracelund Gray through the first half-mile before poking her head in front. She began to separate herself from the field going around the final turn and was all alone for the stretch run, winning under a hand ride.
“She duplicated her last race, you know, she’s got that big, long stride on her,” said Baffert. “I sprinted her twice and I thought she’d win each of those times and then I thought, well she wants to go long. She relaxed nicely today. I think that time [1:37.11] is pretty serious on this track. Just gotta keep ’em healthy. I’ve run her twice now, I don’t want to come back too quick with her.”
Adare Manor broke her maiden at a mile on Jan. 7 by a dozen lengths, her first start around two turns following the sprint starts that Baffert mentioned. Sunday’s victory upped her earnings to $176,600.