Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez make an excellent team, especially in Del Mar's Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association. For the third consecutive year, Baffert and Hernandez have collaborated to win the race, twice with Adare Manor the last two years and this time with Seismic Beauty.

The Aug. 2 $400,000 Clement Hirsch is a "Win and You're In" race that will provide Seismic Beauty an automatic paid entry into the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff this fall at Del Mar. The race is named for the late Clement L. Hirsch, a founder of both the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Oak Tree Racing Association. The latter presented the race as part of Del Mar's day of tribute to Oak Tree, which for decades has raised and distributed money for many worthy equine causes.

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Drawing the rail, Seismic Beauty broke sharply and went right to the front for Hernandez while Royal Spa, a Churchill Downs graded stakes winner, attempted to stay close to fractions of :22.85 and :46.63. When Royal Spa faded, it was up to Kopion, a three-time graded stakes winner since late last year for trainer Richard Mandella, to try to make a race of it. Last of six early, Kopion moved up in the second turn, closed ground in the stretch while four wide, but couldn't catch Baffert's winning filly.

Seismic Beauty defeated Kopion by 1 1/2 lengths, stopping the timer in 1:42.33. Kopion was 3 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Richi, one of two others also trained by Baffert. Royal Spa finished fourth.

"She makes it look like it's easy, but she's going really fast," Baffert said.

Coming from the popular ownership of MyRacehorse in partnership with Peter Leidel, Seismic Beauty won for the third consecutive race in a three-race stretch where she has never let another horse get ahead of her after the start.

Following a 10-length victory in an April 18 allowance optional claiming and a five-length win in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes on May 25 at Santa Anita, Seismic Beauty went off as the 11-10 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Clement Hirsch.

"She's a big filly and she just had to grow into herself," Baffert said. "Those big fillies like that, you've got to wait on them a little bit. She's still maturing, and I think she's still going to improve off of that."

This was Baffert's fourth victory in the Clement Hirsch. He also won the race in 2020 with Fighting Mad.