Dear Readers,
Back to the
races today, and I took a look at the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, one mile and
one-sixteenth on the synthetic dirt surface at Del Mar Racetrack. This is a
race restricted to fillies and mares that are three-year-olds and up. As one of
the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series the winner is
automatically qualified for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic.
Originally named
the Chula Vista Handicap, it was first run in 1937 at a distance of
five-and-half furlongs and was restricted to California Bred two-year-olds. Over
the years, the distance has been changed several times, and in 2000 the race was
renamed to honor Clement L. Hirsch (1914-2000), who was the co-founder of Oak
Tree Racing Association.
The quality
of the fields contesting this race over the years has earned it a Grade I
designation starting in 2009. For example the great mare Zenyatta won the Clement L. Hirsch three years running, from 2008
thru 2010.
The real
story of this year’s Clement L. Hirsch stakes is not who won the race, as much
as who didn’t. Include Me Out, last year’s
winner of this race, who then went on to run third in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies
Classic, finished well out of the money. Watching her closely from bell to
wire, she looked fine, and seemed well within herself stalking the front
runners. When asked she moved strongly and was certainly in position to affect
the outcome of the race, but when she switched leads at the head of the lane,
she looked rough to me and there was no response to strong urging from that
point on. Only Include Me Out’s second race back after a well earned layoff
following last year’s Breeders’ Cup, she may’ve needed the race and just come
up a bit short.
The race unfolded
without drama remaining uneventful
until the horses bunched up at the quarter pole. Lady of Fifty took the overland route and stayed well clear of all
the turmoil going on to the inside of her and was a clear winner at the wire. More Chocolate had to change lanes
several times to avoid horses impeding her progress, and she managed to pull out the second place finish. As for the third place finisher, Byrama, she was in so much trouble she was lucky to come out of the
race unscathed, let alone run third.
I don’t see
Lady of Fifty winning the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic, but then again she
could be getting better with each race. I will reserve final judgment on her
chances until I see what she does after this win.
(Benoit Photo)
Next up the Whitney Handicap, looking back is so much fun, and will give me a good idea how the Breeders' Cup races will look on the day.
Take
care,
Shelley
Riley
Author
of Casual Lies - A Triple Crown Adventure
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