Seven in a row for Eda (Benoit Photo)
Eda Makes it Seven Straight in Taking Sunday’s Rancho Bernardo
Del Mar Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif.— Baoma Corp’s Eda, a fast 4-year-old filly who has made a strong habit of winning everything in sight, captured her seventh consecutive race Sunday at Del Mar in taking down the Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap by a length and a half.
With leading rider Juan Hernandez at the controls for trainer Bob Baffert, Eda, a daughter of the fast horse Munnings, kept her streak alive by covering the six and one-half furlong distance in 1:16.49. She lay second for most of the trip, then accelerated at the top of the lane and never looked anything but a winner.
Eda was the 4-5 favorite in the $126,000 headliner and she returned $3.60 to her backers and $75,000 to her bank account. She now has total earnings of $667,600 off a record that shows eight victories and a second in 10 starts. It was the fifth time in a row that Hernandez has been aboard her for a score.
Keith Abrahams’ Kirstenbosch was second, two and a quarter lengths ahead of Cerin or Cady, et al’s Princess Adaleigh.
The track’s popular Pick Six wager once again couldn’t be solved and the carryover to next Thursday’s pool will start at $324,789. First post that day for an eight-race card is 2 p.m.
Quotes:
JUAN HERNANDEZ (Eda, winner) – “She came out of there well and was running OK. When we went past the five-eighths (pole), she relaxed. That was good. Then when we got near the head of the stretch, I ask her and she goes. She’s a nice one. I should tell Bob (trainer Baffert) I want to ride ones like this all the time.”
BOB BAFFERT (Eda, winner) – “She’s solid. This is the distance she likes. She’s very competitive and some horses they know how to win. I had a filly, Silverbulletday, who won like 10 in a row so you’re lucky to have fillies like this. I wanted to see my other filly, Home Cooking, up on the pace. I thought she’d run really well.”
FRACTIONS: :21.74, :45.07, 1:10.06 and 1:16.49.
The stakes win the fourth of the meet for rider Hernandez. It is also the fourth of the meet for trainer Baffert.
This is the second victory in the Rancho Bernardo (Edgeway in 2022) for jockey Hernandez and his 37th overall at Del Mar.
This is the third victory in the Rancho Bernardo for trainer Baffert and his 160th overall, which is far in front of all other trainers. (Next nearest is John Sadler who has 85.)
The winner is owned by Baoma Corp, which is the nom du course for Charles Chu of North Andover, MA.
