Seismic Beauty Wires Field in Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar

Seismic Beauty left no doubt about her talent on Saturday at Del Mar, taking the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes in front-running fashion and securing her place in this fall’s Breeders' Cup Distaff. Breaking sharply and never looking back, the four-year-old filly controlled the race from start to finish under jockey Juan Hernandez and delivered a professional, measured win against a quality field.

The 1 1/16-mile race, one of the highlights of Del Mar’s summer meet, offered a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders' Cup. Seismic Beauty made it count. She set crisp but manageable early fractions and had plenty left when asked in the stretch, crossing the wire in 1:42.33 over a fast dirt surface.

The victory marked the third straight year trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez have teamed up to win the Hirsch. Hernandez had the filly relaxed on the front end early, and when challengers came near the quarter pole, she simply found another gear. There was never a serious threat as she pulled clear with authority.

Behind her, a group of capable mares tried to close late but couldn't match strides. Among them were Kopion, Richi, and Royal Spa, all of whom had shown flashes of graded-stakes ability prior to this race. Kopion got closest in the end, finishing second, while Richi held third.

For Seismic Beauty, this was a breakout moment. Owned by MyRacehorse and Peter Leidel, the filly had shown promise earlier this year but hadn’t yet proven herself at this level. Saturday's performance removed any doubt. She is now on a direct path to the Breeders' Cup Distaff, which will also be held at Del Mar this year, giving her the added advantage of familiarity with the surface and surroundings.

The Clement L. Hirsch Stakes has long been one of the premier races for older fillies and mares in the summer calendar, and past winners include legends of the sport. With this commanding win, Seismic Beauty has positioned herself to join that elite company.

As the summer continues and attention turns toward the fall championship races, all eyes will be on whether she can take another step forward. If Saturday was any indication, the division may have a new leader.