Del Mar’s signature race of the summer gained some needed star power Monday night, when trainer Bob Baffert said he would enter his star mare Adare Manor in Saturday’s $1 million Pacific Classic.
Only one female has won the race in 33 prior runnings — Beholder in 2015.
Adare Manor, a 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, has won 10 of her 18 starts, including the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes the last two years at Del Mar. She has never run against males or gone as far as 1 1/4 miles.
Entries will be taken Tuesday, with the post positions drawn in the afternoon. The only other Grade 1 winner nominated was Express Train, whose victory came nearly 2 1/2 years ago in the 2022 Santa Anita Handicap.
Baffert, in a text to the Union-Tribune’s Bill Center, also said he would enter Reincarnate, who was second last month in the Cougar II Stakes at Del Mar. Baffert also nominated the 3-year-old Muth but had said last weekend he would not start both Adare Manor and Muth.
Other nominees were San Diego Handicap winner Dr. Venkman, Cougar II winner Midnight Mammoth, Il Miracolo, Katonah, None Above the Law, Mixto, Clooney and Full Serrano.
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