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Adare Manor Headlines California Graded Stakes Action

Bob Baffert's ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo) re-enters graded-stakes company with an expected start in the GII Santa Maria S. Saturday at Santa Anita. A runaway winner in her maiden-breaking score in early 2022, she romped by 13 lengths in the GIII Las Virgenes S. in her next start but missed qualifying for the GI Kentucky Oaks. Transferred back to Baffert's care after near misses in both the GII Santa Anita Oaks and the GII Black-Eyed Susan S., she faltered to sixth in the GI Cotillion before calling it a year last September. After making her 4-year-old debut with a second over seven furlongs at Santa Anita Feb. 18, she returned to the winner's enclosure with a gate-to-wire win against optional claimers at a mile Mar. 31 with a near career high 92 Beyer Speed figure.

Challenging her from either side is a pair of runners from the John Sadler barn in Kristenbosch (Midnight Lute) and Big Switch (Mr. Big). Kristenbosch picked up a Grade I placing behind Fun to Dream (Arrogate) in the GI La Brea S. Dec. 26 and added her own graded-stakes win in the GIII La Canada S. to open her season Jan. 15. She was most recently a narrow third, beaten just a length, in the GIII Monrovia Apr. 8. Big Switch owns several stakes wins, albeit against state-bred company, but was beaten just a head by the aforementioned Adare Manor in that same optional claimer Mar. 31 and has been off the board only twice in her eight-race career.

ANCIENT PEACE BACK ON TURF FOR PROVIDENCIA

After a commanding gate-to-wire maiden-breaking score Dec. 30, Ancient Peace (War Front) caught a rained-off contest when last spotted Apr. 8 but was well-adapted, responding with a six-length win on the Santa Anita main track. Back on the grass for her states debut, the John Sadler trainee will take on a pair of runners on either side starting with Doug O'Neill's stakes winner Broadway Girls (Army Mule). She's been in exclusively stakes company since breaking her maiden at Del Mar last November and picked up a win in the Blue Northern S. Dec. 30 before fading to sixth behind the undefated Faiza (Girvin) in the GIII Las Virgenes. On the outside, Paris Secret (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) won on debut in Ireland last October and was fourth in her American unveiling at Santa Anita Mar. 18 for trainer Phil D'Amato.

OLDER HORSES TURF AT GOLDEN GATE

Not to be left out of the California graded-stakes action, Golden Gate plays host to the GIII San Francisco Mile S. with Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) looking to get back in the winner's circle after just missing by a nose in the GII Santa Anita Mathis Mile S. Dec. 26. The 4-year-old gelding, after spending his juvenile season in France, has picked up a pair of wins since coming state-side including the GIII Bryan Station S. at Keeneland last October.

Breaking from the far outside with plenty of speed, Dicey Mo Chara (GB) (Adaay {Ire}) nearly went gate-to-wire before just getting headed late in the GII Charlie Whittingham S. to begin his season Apr. 8. Now a 5-year-old for trainer Leonard Powell, the gelding has kept exclusively graded-stakes company dating back to a narrow third when beaten just a half-length in Golden Gate's All American S. last May. Two starts back he added graded-stakes winner to his resume with a score in the GII San Gabriel S. Dec. 26.

Also a potential speed factor to contend with, Bob and Jackie (Twirling Candy) had to settle for third after leading much of the way in the GIII American S. over the mile distance at Santa Anita Apr. 2.

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Irad Ortiz, Jr. Voted Jockey Of The Week After Fourth Straight Shoemaker Award

Three-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz, Jr. travelled to the West Coast from his base in New York for the races at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club during Breeders' Cup week. He returned to New York having won four stakes at Del Mar and put an exclamation point on his outstanding week by winning a stakes race at Belmont Park on Sunday. His accomplishments earned Jockey of the Week Nov. 1 through Nov. 7. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Breeders' Cup weekend began with “Future Stars Friday” with all stakes races dedicated to two-year-olds. Riding for trainer John Sadler, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Big Switch in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Presented by PNC. Off in post position six in the field of eight, Big Switch took command in upper stretch and drew off to a convincing 2-3/4 lengths victory in 1:22.39 for six furlongs.

”I didn't have to do much,” said Ortiz. “I had a good trip. She just ran and that's all there was to it.”

Trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. combined for the third straight year to win the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. This year Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Twilight Gleaming (IRE). The fastest out of the gate, Twilight Gleaming (IRE) led all the way to win by a half-length over Go Bears Go covering the five furlongs on the turf in :56.24.

On Saturday, the duo of trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. struck again with Golden Pal in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Golden Pal went right to the lead and was never pressured, posting a 1-1/4-length win for the five furlongs on the turf in: 54.75.

“I was happy to get the lead easily and he responded to me when I asked him for the run down the stretch,” said Ortiz, Jr.

The next race saw Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher give a leg up to Ortiz, Jr. on Life Is Good in the G1 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Life Is Good took command out of the gate and cruised to 5-3/4 lengths victory after a mild challenge from Ginobili.

“I had the perfect trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “When we go to the quarter pole, he re-broke for me. What a nice horse to ride.”

Ortiz, Jr. was awarded the Bill Shoemaker Award for the fourth year in a row as Outstanding Jockey at the Breeders' Cup.

Back to Belmont Park on Sunday, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Orglandes (FR) for trainer Chad Brown in the Zagora for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going 1-1/2 miles on the Widener turf. Off as the favorite in the field of seven, Orglandes (FR) got up right before the wire to win by a neck over Beautiful Love and Joel Rosario in 2:29.28. Ortiz, Jr. also collected the leading rider title at Belmont Park.

Ortiz, Jr. outpolled Mitchell Murrill with the most wins for the week, Jose L. Ortiz with two G1 Breeders' Cup victories, Joel Rosario with two G1 Breeders' Cup wins and Chantal Sutherland with nine wins for the week.

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Big Switch Makes Big Move To Overcome Stablemate Big Novel In Golden State Fillies

George Krikorian's Big Switch, well-supported at 3-1, overhauled 8-5 favored stablemate Big Novel in the upper stretch and drew off to a convincing victory in the $175,000 Golden State Fillies in the second of four supporting features on the first day of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Friday.

With star jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the saddle, Big Switch scored by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:10.23 for the six furlongs. Big Novel held on well to be second, 6 3/4 lengths in front of third-place Vivacious Vanessa in the line-up of nine California-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Big Switch, a daughter of Mr. Big trained by John Sadler, who also sent out the runner-up, paid $8.60, $3.80, and $2.80 after her second success in as many starts. Big Novel returned $3.00 and $2.20, while Vivacious Vanessa paid 2.80 to show. The winner's share of the purse was $99,750.

IRAD ORTIZ, JR. (Big Switch, winner) – “Juan (assistant trainer Juan Leyva) didn't give me any special instructions. He just said keep her calm until the race. She did all the work in the race; I didn't have to do much. I had a good trip. She just ran and that's all there was to it.”

JUAN LEYVA, assistant to John Sadler (Big Switch, winner) “I've won some stakes (deputizing) for John at Keeneland, but haven't run 1-2 in a stakes before. I thought both fillies ran really well. We knew (runner-up) Big Novel was the speed of the race, but (Big Switch) really toughed it out.”

FRACTIONS: :22.46 :45.39 1:10.23 1:22.39

The stakes win was the fifth at Del Mar for rider Ortiz, Jr.

The stakes win was the second of the meet for trainer Sadler. He now has 82 stakes wins at Del Mar, second most of all trainers.

The winning owner and breeder is George Krikorian of Torrance, Calif.

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