Praise for Adoration

Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Adoration got back on the winning trail last night with victory in the 300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita.

The five-year-old was beaten into fourth at the same venue last month but managed to run out a two-length winner of yesterday’s Grade One event.

In doing so, Adoration managed to turn the tables on second-placed Star Parade, who had beaten the mare in the Santa Maria Handicap, with Bare Necessities a head back in third.

“She came into this race a little better than she did the last one,” winning trainer David Hofmans told the Thoroughbred Times.

“This time I backed off and let her gain a little weight and let her settle, and it seemed to help her.

"She had been sick a few days (before the Santa Maria), so I missed a few days. The strategy today was just to stay back and let Star Parade do her thing.”