Older fillies and mares will get their chance to earn Grade 1 status and a fees-paid Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” spot in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff in Saturday’s Clement L. Hirsch Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association at Del Mar. The 2026 Clement L. Hirsch drew a field of nine that will race 1 1/16 miles on the main track for a purse of $400,000.
Trainer Bob Baffert has won the last three runnings of the Clement Hirsch and four of the last six, including last year’s winner #8 Seismic Beauty, who is back seeking a repeat victory. If she accomplishes that feat, it would Baffert’s second straight Clement Hirsch repeat after his star trainee Adare Manor won back-to-back editions in 2023-’24. Jockey Juan Hernandez will go for his fourth Hirsch win in a row.
Despite her connections, a win in this race last year, and her obvious talent, Seismic Beauty comes into this race riddled with question marks. She entered last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff as the 6-5 favorite but was eased in that race and finished 39 lengths behind winner Scylla. That was followed by seven months on the sidelines and a third-place finish last time behind both #3 Om N Joy and #6 Simply Joking in her return race in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes on May 30. If Seismic Beauty is on her best game, she should not lose on Saturday, but she has not been at her best since exactly a year ago, so how likely is that to happen? Will it be worth it to trust her at low odds? The best answer probably is to use Seismic Beauty in your wagers, but not to key on her or depend on her to win in order for you to win.
#1 Chasten is an interesting challenger shipping to Del Mar for this race for trainer Brad Cox, who won the Clement Hirsch back in 2021 with Shedaresthedevil. Chasten scored two mid-Atlantic region stakes wins in her last three races, each with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, including her 6 ¼-length victory last time in the $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park. She fell short in her previous attempt to step up to the Grade 1 level but seems worthy of another chance against this field.
#5 Majestic Oops is the other horse that should be considered a serious threat to Seismic Beauty in the Clement Hirsch. She beat the likes of Eclipse Award winner Nitrogen earlier this year in the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park, ran third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap, and exits a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Shawnee Stakes behind the likes of Splendora and Immersive, both of whom came out of that race to win Grade 2 races in their following starts and would likely vie for favoritism if entered in this race.
The wagering strategy for the Clement Hirsch will be to bet on #1 Chasten to post the upset and use her along with fellow invader #5 Majestic Oops and the horse to beat #8 Seismic Beauty in exactas and/or trifectas. Depending on your budget, let’s outline two wagering strategies to consider when betting the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes:
Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget:
$2 exacta box: 1,5 ($4)
What to say at the betting window: Del Mar, Race 10, $2 exacta box 1,5
$1 trifecta box: 1,5,8 ($6)
What to say at the betting window: Del Mar, Race 10, $1 trifecta box, 1,5,8
Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget:
$6 win on #1 Chasten ($6)
What to say at the betting window: Del Mar, Race 10, $6 to win on 1
$2 exacta box: 1,5,8 ($12)
What to say at the betting window: Del Mar, Race 10, $2 exacta box 1,5,8
$2 trifecta box: 1,5,8 ($12)
What to say at the betting window: Del Mar, Race 10, $2 trifecta box 1,5,8
Good luck and enjoy the race!
