Adare Manor is being scratched from the Pacific Classic, in which the mare was the morning-line favorite to defeat males Saturday at Del Mar.
Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed the news Friday morning.
“She tied up after galloping yesterday, and she’s still a little tight today,” Baffert said by phone. “She can’t be even a little off her game in a big race like this.
“It’s disappointing, but it happens.”
Tying up means the horse experienced uncomfortable muscle contractions or cramping following exercise.
The development certainly is disappointing for Del Mar, which loses the star attraction for the Pacific Classic, the $1 million, Grade I, 1¼-mile centerpiece of the San Diego-area track’s summer season.
Adare Manor, a 5-year-old mare who dominates the older-females division in California with Juan Hernandez riding, was to run against male horses for the first time in her career and could have become the second female to defeat males in the Pacific Classic, joining 2015 winner Beholder.
Eight horses are left in the race. With 9-5 morning-line favorite Adare Manor out, 5-2 Dr. Venkman becomes the new favorite.
Baffert is left with one horse in the race. Reincarnate was 8-1 on the original morning line.
More to come on this story.
