The Clement L. Hirsch Stakes is a Grade I Thoroughbred race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Contested at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt for fillies and mares aged three and older, it is the most prestigious distaff dirt race on the West Coast and a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" qualifier, with the winner receiving an automatic, fees-paid starting position in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland in October. Inaugurated in 1937 as the Chula Vista Handicap, the race was renamed in 2000 in honor of Clement L. Hirsch (1914-2000), a Newport Beach businessman who co-founded the Oak Tree Racing Association and was one of the most influential figures in California Thoroughbred racing for more than 50 years. Receiving Grade I status in 2009, the Clement L. Hirsch has a legendary roll of honor including Hall of Famers Bayakoa, Azeri, Zenyatta, and Beholder — Zenyatta won three consecutive editions from 2008 to 2010 as part of her unbeaten run. Bob Baffert won three consecutive editions from 2023 to 2025 with Adare Manor (2023-2024) and Seismic Beauty (2025), giving him four Clement L. Hirsch victories. John Sadler holds the all-time trainer record with five wins. The stakes record of 1:40.00 was set by Matching in 1982.
The 2026 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, August 1 at Del Mar Racetrack. Contested at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt with a purse of $400,000, the race draws the top older fillies and mares on the West Coast targeting the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland in October.
Seismic Beauty gave trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez a dominant 2025 victory in 1:42.33, the four-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo leading wire-to-wire to earn a berth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Adare Manor gave Baffert and Hernandez back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024, the multiple Grade I winner completing a remarkable two-year reign over the West Coast distaff division before being sold to international connections. Blue Stripe (ARG) gave trainer Marcelo Polanco and jockey Hector Berrios a stunning 2022 upset, the Argentine-bred collaring defending champion Shedaresthedevil in deep stretch to score her second American Grade I win of the year. Shedaresthedevil gave trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux a 2021 victory that was her third Grade I win, the daughter of Daredevil sitting just off the early pace before powering clear in the lane on the Del Mar main track.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Seismic Beauty | Juan Hernandez | 1:42.33 |
| 2024 | Adare Manor | Juan Hernandez | 1:43.29 |
| 2023 | Adare Manor | Juan Hernandez | 1:43.33 |
| 2022 | Blue Stripe (ARG) | Hector Berrios | 1:42.97 |
| 2021 | Shedaresthedevil | Florent Geroux | 1:45.38 |
The Clement L. Hirsch Stakes is the most prestigious distaff dirt race on the West Coast and the key summer road to the Breeders' Cup Distaff each August at Del Mar.
