Adare Manor Blows Them Away in G3 Las Virgenes

Michael Lund Petersen’s Adare Manor (3f Uncle Mo x Brooklynsway, by Giant Gizmo) made her presence known in a big way on Sunday with a 13-length domination of the Grade III Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.

The filly poured the pressure on Gracelund Gray early in the one-mile dirt race before that one grudgingly yielded the lead down the backstretch as the winner coasted past her. Once she was in command, Adare Manor had little work left to do with John Velazquez giving her a hand ride from there.

Velazquez eased up on her in the final furlong with no one coming close to making a challenge. It was the second straight victory for the Bob Baffert trainee, who had broken her maiden by 12 lengths in January.

“She’s like an amazon, she’s got that big, powerful (way of moving),” Baffert said. “She’s got that big frame but she’s quick. She relaxed nicely today. I think that time (1:37.11) is pretty serious on this track.”

Adare Manor was a $375,000 OBS June 2-Year-Old Sale purchase by Donato Lanni from Julie Davies last year and is the first foal out of the Grade III winning Brooklynsway. Bred by Town and Country Horse Farms and Gary Broad, Adare Manor also sees multiple stakes winner Effie Trinket in her immediate family.

She is the second 2022 stakes winner for Uncle Mo, who has registered six stakes performers this year. It was a big weekend for Uncle Mo, who also saw his Grade II Remsen Stakes winner Mo Donegal finish third in the Holy Grade III Bull with four winners between Friday and Sunday.