Seven talented distaffers seeking a secured spot in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) gate in just about three months will square off in Sunday’s $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, the seaside oval’s second “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge event of the summer.
The Clement L. Hirsch will again be contested over the distance of 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The Southern California weather continues to be beautiful and the afternoon high is expected to reach mid-70s, guaranteeing another day with a fast track.
The Clement L. Hirsch was once known as the Chula Vista Handicap and was renamed in 2000 to honor Clement Hirsch, the popular philanthropist and horse owner and breeder who founded California’s prestigious Oak Tree Racing Association.
A superstar list of distance fillies and mares have graced the Del Mar winner’s circle after capturing this stakes fixture, including champions Princess Rooney, Bayakoa (Arg), Paseana (Arg), Sharp Cat, Azeri (twice) and Zenyatta (three times). All but Sharp Cat are in the Hall of Fame. Champion Stellar Wind won this race six years ago for the second time and the fan-favored Eclipse Award winner Unique Bella ran her final career race in this event five years ago. Blue Stripe (Arg) won this race before her gallant second in the Breeders’ Cup while millionaire Adare Manor won the last two runnings.
Trainer John Sadler has saddled a record five winners, one more than the legendary Charlie Whittingham, to lead all others as the race’s leading conditioner, while retired Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron earned seven Hirsch trophies and is still top jockey, more than 23 years after he retired from the saddle.
The race was contested at 5 1/2 furlongs for 2-year-olds bred in California in 1937, at one mile at 1967, 1 1 ⁄8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds & up in 1973, one-mile for 3-year-olds & up 1974-75, 7 1/2 furlongs on turf for 3-year-olds and up 1976-80. It has been a Grade since in 2009 and was contested under handicap conditions from 1981-2008.
This year’s Hirsch is not short on talent at the top and it’s hard to pinpoint who carries the most star power in the bunch, but the Bob Baffert-trained Seismic Beauty is coming in hot off a five-length Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) win at Santa Anita, which was on the heels of a ten-length allowance/optional claiming romp. The Uncle Mo filly hasn’t ever finished worse than third in her six career starts, so she’s certainly consistent. Her inside post makes certain she will be gunning for her preferred spot on the front end from the break under Juan Hernandez and her series of sharp works over the surface signal she’s up to the task.
Kopion, who drew the far outside, likes to win. She’s had her picture taken five times in eight starts and has one off-the-board finish. She’s coming off a second as the 1-5 favorite in the Great Lady M Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos last out, but in her defense it wasn’t the smoothest of trips.
"She lost a left front shoe," Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella explained. "Sometimes horses do that and it doesn't bother them but she was a little sore."
She consistently logs impressive triple-digit speed figures and has a nice tactical turn of foot, which will allow her to adjust her running style depending on how the pace sets up. Mandella, who also managed the career of her sire Omaha Beach, trains for Spendthrift Farm and Kazushi Kimura will be back aboard.
Baffert also sends out Chilean Group 1 winner Richi off a 4 ½-length trouncing of four rivals in the Santa Maria Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita 3 ½ months ago, an effort that earned her a field-high 111 speed figure. She also won January’s Las Flores Stakes (G2) and a pair of graded stakes placings before her last-out win. Is she prime for a bounce? Maybe, but her best makes her a strong contender.
Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner Nothing Like You is Baffert’s third runner here and the daughter of Malibu Moon will be making her first start in ten months. She’s talented with a ton of ability, but she’s probably best suited for any exotic wagering in this race off the lengthy layoff.
"We just wanted to freshen her up," Baffert said about the layoff. "She just went off form so I gave her some time off. She's doing pretty well but that's a tough task and there's no other race here for her."
Royal Spa ships west for Rodolphe Brisset off a second to Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs a month ago. This seasoned mare is well-traveled and has a win at this distance, but she seems to prefer to keep company with mostly sprinters.
Little Hidden Port (Arg) makes her debut for this race’s leading owner-trainer combo of Hronis Racing and John Sadler. She hasn’t raced since December (a seven-length win in an Argentine stakes race at La Plata) but she’s been working regularly and consistently for several weeks, signaling she’s fit for the start. It might be a good idea to take a wait-and-see approach before betting too much on the win, but her value may be in exotics like exactas and trifectas.
Mahina is a useful mare probably best suited to non-graded stakes and allowance company.
The Clement Hirsch is the day’s 10th race with an approximate post time of 6:30 p.m. PDT.
For those who bet on horse racing,
1 Seismic Beauty (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert) 2-1
2 Royal Spa (Hector Berrios, Rodolphe Brisset) 6-1
3 Mahina (Mike Smith, Paddy Gallagher) 20-1
4 Nothing Like You (Drayden Van Dyke, Bob Baffert) 8-1
5 Richi (Antonio Fresu, Bob Baffert) 3-1
6 Little Hidden Port (Armando Ayuso, John Sadler) 12-1
5 Kopion (Kazushi Kimura, Richard Mandella) 5/2
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
