The 1.10-1 favorite led throughout and held off the late charge of Kopion, the 1.90-1 second choice.

Kopion has proved herself an elite sprinter the past two seasons, but connections aren't ready to give up on the four-year-old demonstrating similar class around two turns.

Odds-on favorite Adare Manor scored a repeat victory in Saturday’s $401,500 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar, but the real story was how she did it.

The knock on multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Adare Manor is that she tends to beat up on inferior opposition, often by dictating as she pleases on the front end.

After romping in a pair of Grade 2s by a combined margin of nine lengths, Adare Manor was backed into 3-5 favoritism in Saturday’s Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar. The Bob Baffert trainee had to work a lot harder, but ultimately got the job done.

The streaking Adare Manor will square off against her Bob Baffert stablemate Fun to Dream in Saturday’s $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar.

Three years after Argentine import Blue Prize reached top form and upset the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), her half-sister Blue Stripe could be on a similar trajectory.

Kentucky shipper Shedaresthedevil added a third Grade 1 victory to her portfolio, and a free berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), in Sunday’s $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1) at Del Mar.

The only one to edge division leader Letruska this season, Shedaresthedevil is also the lone shipper in Sunday’s $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1) at Del Mar.