Del Mar: Adare Manor takes on shippers in Clement Hirsch

Adare Manor, one of the top racemares in America, will go postward Saturday as a strong favorite in Del Mar’s 54th edition of the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, a Grade 1 headliner that carries a $400,000 purse thanks to a supplement from the Oak Tree Racing Association.

Saturday is Oak Tree day at Del Mar as members of that racing charity group join Del Mar officials and fans to help honor Clement L. Hirsch, one of the founders of both Oak Tree and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Hirsch was honored Friday in upstate New York at Saratoga, where he was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame.

The Oak Tree board also is supplementing race purses throughout the day and providing funds for grooms who win the “best turned out horse” in each of the afternoon’s 11 races.

Adare Manor, owned by Michael Lund Petersen, captured the 2023 version of the Hirsch by a length after running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.20. The now 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo has gone to the gate 17 times, winning nine of them and running second five other times. She’s banked more than $1.8 million.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will give the mare’s regular rider, Juan Hernandez, a leg up once again and send them out to post 2 in the eight-horse lineup.

Adare Manor’s chief threat might be eastern shipper Pretty Mischievous, owned and bred by Godolphin and sent westward by veteran trainer Brendan Walsh. The 4-year-old by super sire Into Mischief is coming off a stellar 2023 season that saw her crowned 3-year-old filly champion after a trio of Grade 1 triumphs, including the Kentucky Oaks.

Trainer Walsh had deputized Del Mar rider Umberto Rispoli to take the reins with his bay charge, and they’ll break from the outside No. 8 post.

Two other shippers will try their luck in the Hirsh in Scylla and Olivia Twist. The former races out of the barn of Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott and has won five of her seven starts so far. The latter races for conditioner Todd Fincher and is a four-time winner so far.