2025 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at a Glance

Racing
Seismic Beauty, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Del Mar, Bob Baffert, America's Best Racing, horse racing, ABR
Seismic Beauty, above winning the Santa Margarita Stakes, is one of three entrants for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Saturday at Del Mar and has a great chance to give him his third straight win in the race. (BENOIT photo)

Older fillies and mares will get their chance to earn Grade 1 status and an expenses-paid “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 Clement L. Hirsch drew a field of seven, including three from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Clement L. Hirsch Stakes

Racetrack: Del Mar, Del Mar, Calif.

Date: Aug. 2

Purse: $400,000

Distance: 1 1/16 miles

Race: 10

Post Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

Notable winners: Adare Manor (2023, 2024), Blue Stripe (2022), Shedaresthedevil (2021), Unique Bella (2018), Stellar Wind (2016, 2017), Beholder (2015), Zenyatta (2008, 2009, 2010), Azeri (2002, 2003), Bayakoa (1990), Princess Rooney (1984), Sharp Cat (1998), Paseana (1994), Bayakoa (1990), and Princess Rooney (1984).

First held: 1937

1. Seismic Beauty (2-1 morning-line odds): Will try to give Baffert a third straight win in this stakes. Never worse than third in six starts, she won her last two tries by a combined margin of 15 lengths. The topper was a five-length win in Santa Margarita Stakes on May 25. She has elite speed and will be tough to beat if she can duplicate her latest effort.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

2. Royal Spa (6-1): Heads west after finishing second to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes. She won the Grade 3 Shawnee Stakes before that and looks like the main rival to Seismic Beauty.

JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: Rodolphe Brisset

3. Mahina (20-1): Has been racing on turf and is winless in three starts on dirt. Seems like an unlikely spot to get that initial dirt win.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Patrick Gallagher

4. Nothing Like You (8-1): Hasn’t raced in 10 months and is winless since April 2024. Looks more like a prep for another race as opposed to a winnable spot.

JOCKEY: Drayden Van Dyke; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

5. Richi (3-1): Won the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes for Baffert back in April and seems a major player here. She also has plenty of speed which could lead to an interesting pace scenario up front among the two Baffert stablemates.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

6. Little Hidden Port (12-1): Makes her U.S. debut after posting a Group 2 win in Argentina back in December. Maybe next time.

JOCKEY: Armando Ayuso; TRAINER: John Sadler

7. Kopion (5-2): A top West Coast sprinter, she will stretch out here and try to win at more than seven furlongs for the first time. Comes off a disappointing second as the 1-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos but was highly impressive before that. The distance holds the key to her chances. Can she chase Baffert’s fillies and still have a strong closing kick? We’ll see.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Richard Mandella

THE PICK: Seismic Beauty

LIVE LONGSHOT: Royal Spa

SUPERFECTA: 1-2-7-5


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