The romance that began in the autumn of 2024 between Saffie Joseph Jr. and major races in Southern California blossomed once again on the afternoon of Aug. 1 when Eunomia, a daughter of Tiz the Law, swept into town to stun the best older fillies and mares the West Coast had to offer with a half-length victory over Om N Joy in the $402,000 Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association at Del Mar.

Racing for St. Elias Stables and WSS Racing, Eunomia was overlooked at 12-1 in the field of nine going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

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Her cause was aided by a hot opening half in :46.81 supplied by Simply Joking under pressure from favored Seismic Beauty, the defending champ. For Simply Joking's trainer Michael McCarthy, it was deja vu all over again as he watched the Hirsch unfold not unlike the frustrating Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes in May, when the two fillies dueled through an even faster opening half-mile before surrendering to Om N Joy. Simply Joking did well this time to hold third, a length behind Om N Joy.

Seismic Beauty finished next-to-last, throwing in her second clunker in two starts this year for Bob Baffert. Jockey Juan Hernandez was mystified.

"She was going easy the first part," Hernandez said. "Felt very comfortable. I thought I was in a good spot around the turn, but then when the winner came to me on the outside, my filly had nothing. I didn't feel anything wrong with her. She just didn't have any answer."

In contrast, jockey Micah Husbands was getting nothing but positive vibes from Eunomia, who was making her Grade 1 debut in her 16th career start. Likewise, Husbands, 23, was making his Del Mar debut in his first collaboration with Eunomia.

"Del Mar is a beautiful place," Husbands said as he tossed a couple pair of goggles to young fans on the rail. "I love it here. I've been watching races from here my whole life and was hoping someday to ride here.

"It was a very straightforward race," Husbands went on. "If you looked at the Form, there were the two horses that were going to show speed, and they went out there. My filly was handling the track, so I just let her stay in her rhythm until it was time to kick on."

Micah Husbands gives Eunomia a pat on the back.

Kick on she did, getting first run on Om N Joy and gobbling up Simply Joking to stop the timer in 1:44.10.

As a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" event, the Clement L. Hirsch grants Eunomia an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Oct. 31 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland.

Majestic Oops also closed with a rush to miss third money by a nose.

Joseph's first California prize came at Del Mar in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint with Soul of an Angel. In 2025, he sent stable star Skippylongstocking to Santa Anita Park to win the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes, and Be Your Best to win the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes, then came right back this year to win a second straight Gold Cup with Forged Steel.

Joseph began training Eunomia late last year after she had run her first 10 races for Victoria Oliver. This year, the filly was third in the Grade 3 Royal Delta Stakes, second in the Grade 2 Doubledogdare Stakes, and won the listed Sandy Bottom Stakes at Colonial Downs.

Her most recent race, though, was a poor performance in the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes in early May at Aqueduct.

"We ran her back too quick, thinking we could get her a graded stakes win," Joseph said after the Hirsch. "That's what happens when you rush."

There are plenty more California opportunities on the horizon for Joseph. The next may be Navajo Warrior in the Pacific Classic Stakes coming up Aug. 22.