Adare Manor a facile Santa Margarita S. (G2) winner

Adare Manor extended her winning streak to three with a commanding performance in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Margarita S. (G2) at Santa Anita Park, winning by 4 ½-lengths in front-running style.

The 5-year-old is the is the second Santa Margarita winner for Bob Baffert, who got his first in with Vale Dori.

Adare Manor, who was an easy winner of the April 29 Santa Maria S. (G2) in similar fashion, went to the lead right away under Juan Hernandez, who guided the field through an easy half-mile in :48.47. Adare Manor began to pull clear on the final turn and was up three lengths coming into the stretch. Hernandez did not ask the dark bay at any point as she galloped under the wire to finish the nine furlongs in 1:49.79 on a fast track.

“She is really, really smooth,” Hernandez said. “She just took me there, and I just let her go. She was galloping. It was really fun.”

Adare Manor’s record now stands at 5-4-0 in 11 starts. She has earned $621,600 for owner Michael Lund Petersen.