Adare Manor made her first stakes start since September on Saturday and cruised to 4 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Santa Maria S. (G2) at Santa Anita Park.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, the 4-year-old filly took the lead in the first few strides and took the field through a half-mile in :47.16. After six furlongs she had a one-length lead, when Hernandez asked her, she powered away from the field and was geared down late to finish up the 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.10 on a fast track.

“She was really, really good today,” Hernandez said. “Today, she had a huge stride. I didn’t change her style, she likes to go to the lead. I just let her run, let her be happy on the lead.”

Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Adare Manor won last year’s Las Virgenes S. (G3) by 13 lengths and is 4-4-0 in 10 starts and has earned $501,600.

“The older you get, you really appreciate (the wins),” trainer Bob Baffert, who tied Charlie Whittingham with five Santa Maria victories, said. “(Adare Manor) has just blossomed, she’s a big, beautiful mare and that stride she has just eats up the ground.”