Facing just three rivals, Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) controlled the tempo from the get-go before romping home the easiest of winners in the GII Santa Margarita S. at Santa Anita Sunday. The 1-9 favorite went quickly to the lead and loped along unchallenged through fractions of :23.65 and :48.77. She opened up under her own steam into the lane and was under wraps as she glided under the wire 4 1/4 lengths in front, completing the nine furlongs in 1:50.86.
With her win Sunday, Adare Manor has won seven of her 12 starts at Santa Anita and has hit the board in all but one of those outings. She became the first filly to complete the Santa Margarita/Apple Blossom double in one year since champion Zenyatta and the last repeat winner of the Santa Margarita since Hall of Famer Bayakoa in 1989 and 1990.
“Well, we wanted the ‘W’ and that was the main thing,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “She was training great for this, she had a big effort last time, but she handled it well and I thought this was a good spot. There won’t be another spot until we get to Del Mar for a while. We just really enjoy her and that’s why Michael Lund Petersen is in the business, to watch his horses run. He says he needs more, so we’re going to buy him some. He needs more action.”
Baffert continued, “Michael has learned the ups and downs of racing, it’s tough, but it’s horses like this that make it all worthwhile and makes it fun. That’s why we’re in this game. We love our horses, we love competing, we love watching them compete and when you get a good one like this, you better enjoy them because they are hard to find.”