Clement L. Hirsch
OAK TREE DAY AT DEL MAR SATURDAY OFFERING MANY REWARDS
Del Mar will host its first Oak Tree Day Saturday with racing’s foremost charitable group involved throughout the racing card.
The afternoon’s headliner will be the 54th running of the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, a Grade I, $400,000 test for fillies and mares sponsored by, and named for, the founder of the Oak Tree Racing Association, which ran an extremely popular race meet at Santa Anita for 42 years between 1969 and 2010.
It will be a big weekend for Oak Tree and the Hirsch family. The late Clement L. Hirsch will be inducted today under the prestigious Pillars of the Turf category into Racing’s Hall of Fame at Saratoga in New York, then on Saturday his Oak Tree group will continue their primary role -- which is horsemen helping horsemen – at Del Mar with a series of enhancements to the day’s program.
Besides supplementing the headliner, Oak Tree’s board has chosen to add $9,500 to six of the day’s races (Races 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8) to be paid out to owners and trainers of the horses who run first, second and third in those events. Further, the group will provide $500 payments to the grooms of the horses deemed “best turned out” over the course of all 11 races on the afternoon.
Though the Oak Tree group does not run races anymore, they continue to provide positive input to the game through various avenues. They founded the backstretch equine hospitals at both Del Mar and Santa Anita that provide aid to horses and horsemen. They also purchased the equine ambulances that aid horses in distress on Southern California’s various tracks. Further, Oak Tree is a partner with Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in providing free dinners to all backstretch help throughout its current race meet.
The present Oak Tree board consists of veterinarian Dr. Rick Arthur; Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella; insurance executive and horse owner Tom Capehart, and Bo Hirsch, a horse owner and breeder and a son of Clement L. Hirsch.
Besides overseeing the establishment of Oak Tree, Clement L. Hirsch – working with John C. Mabee and other horsemen – also help found the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in 1968. DMTC has overseen a highly successful racing program at Del Mar since 1970.
ADARE MANOR LOOKS TO REPEAT IN G1 CLEMENT HIRSCH SATURDAY
Adare Manor has arguably been the best distaff horse on the West Coast for two years now, winning such marquee races as the G1 Clement Hirsch, G2 Zenyatta, the G1 Apple Blossom and back-to-back G2 Santa Margarita.
She will be back Saturday to defend her crown in the Clement Hirsch, a mile and a sixteenth test and a ‘Win & You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Seven fillies and mares, including a couple of talented shippers, will hope to deprive Adare Manor of yet another graded stakes victory. It won’t be easy.
The daughter of Uncle Mo has been nothing short of brilliant so far this year. After a runner-up finish to Sweet Azteca in the G1 Beholder Mile in March, Adare Manor shipped to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas and delivered one of her best performances, a 5 ½-length victory in the G1 Apple Blossom, wiring the field of nine top fillies and mares and finishing them off by the time they turned for home.
Adare Manor followed up that performance with another impressive victory, repeating for the second year in a row with a 4 ¼-length victory in the G2 Santa Margarita. She has run in 17 races and finished in the money in 14 of them. The only blemishes on an otherwise flawless resume are a sixth-place finish in the G1 Cotillion in 2022 as a 3-year old, and a seventh-place drubbing in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
“She’s training well,” Baffert says. “It looks like a very competitive field and we’re excited to watch her run.”
A trio of horses who have finished second to Adare Manor will take another shot at her in the Clement Hirsch. Flying Connection was runner-up in the Apple Blossom.
“That day Flying Connection just absolutely missed the break,” trainer Todd Fincher says. “I don’t know what happened. She usually leaves the gates real good. (Ricardo) Santana did a smart thing. He took a hold of her and didn’t let her runoff into the pack. He waited until the quarter pole and she made a great run. Obviously couldn’t get to ‘Adare’ but a beautiful race she ran that day.”
Coffee in Bed also ran second best to Adare Manor in their last encounter, the Santa Margarita. She’s a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin who won the G2 Santa Maria in April at Santa Anita.
“She’s doing great,” trainer Richard Mandella says. “I think she’s doing better than she has all year. Seems to be real happy here. “
Trainer Phil D’Amato will bring over Desert Dawn, runner-up to Adare Manor in last year’s Clement Hirsch. She’s been off since running third in the Santa Maria.
“She’s doing really well,” D’Amato states. “We gave her a little 30-day break at the farm. Just kind of recharged her batteries and she’s coming in really good.”
Last year’s Eclipse Award winning 3-year old filly champion, Pretty Mischievous, ships into Del Mar for trainer Brendan Walsh. She won the G1 Kentucky Oaks, the G1 Acorn and the G1 Test in succession last year.
Also shipping in for the race is a fast-rising star in the Distaff division. Scylla comes to the West Coast from the Bill Mott barn. She’s won three races in a row including the G2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs last out.
Sugar Fish is the only 3-year-old filly in the race. She’s also riding a three-race win streak including a nine-length romp in the G2 Summertime Oaks, defeating Santa Anita Oaks winner Nothing Like You. The daughter of Accelerate has won by a combined 20-lengths during the three-race string.
The 54th running of the G1 Clement Hirsch, named after one of the co-founders of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, is Race #10 on the 11-race card on Saturday. Probable post is 6:30 p.m.
Here is the field from the rail with the jockeys and morning line odds: Flying Connection (Joe Talamo, 20-1); Adare Manor (Juan Hernandez, 3/5); Scylla (Mike Smith, 6-1); Coffee in Bed (Kazushi Kimura, 15-1); Desert Dawn (Antonio Fresu, 10-1); Sugar Fish (Tyler Baze, (12-1); Olivia Twist (Reylu Gutierrez, 30-1) and Pretty Mischievous (Umberto Rispoli, 8-1).
CAL-BREDS CLASH IN CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ STAKES
Cal-breds kick off the stakes twin bill at Del Mar Saturday with the $150,000 California Dreamin’, a mile and a sixteenth turf event for 3-year-olds and up. Eleven colts and geldings line up in what appears to be a wide-open affair.
Barely Funtional ran second last time out in the $100,000 Crystal Water at Santa Anita. The winner of that race, Kings River Knight, was a finalist for Cal-bred Horse of the Year. He’s not running in the California Dreamin’, leaving the door open for Barely Funtional.
“I think he should be real tough in this one,” trainer Antonio Garcia says. “Last time he had a good run and got into a little bit of trouble. He got blocked in for a good while. Once he got out in the clear he was making up some ground. Now that he’s older, he’s been maturing and after we gelded him he’s really turned around.”
The mile and a sixteenth will be the longest race of Barely Funtional’s career.
“I think it’s an asset,” Garcia contends. “He’ll probably level out a little bit more. He has just one run and it takes him a little bit to gear in but I think the distance is going to suit him real good.”
Old Pal is another contender in the California Dreamin’. He returned from a one-year layoff to win an entry-level allowance in May beating Barely Functional. He then ran third in the Crystal Water, a length and a half behind Barely Funtional.
“I thought he ran very well,” trainer Mark Glatt says of Old Pal’s run in the Crystal Water. “He was firing back kind of quick from his comeback race so he may have bounced a little. The bigger issue was he’s a deep closer and he had to come wide into a very soft pace. So I think it compromised his chances of winning.”
Carmelita’s Man is back to defend his title in the California Dreamin’. He beat Kings River Knight in last year’s edition but hasn’t won a race since.
“Like you and I, he’s getting a little older and a little smarter,” trainer Dean Pederson says. “Father time is catching up a little bit but he’s always done well down here. He likes this turf course a little better than the one at Santa Anita.
“The main reason we brought him down is it’s getting close to the end (of his career),” Pederson continues. “We put him in a (outdoor) pen and he loves it out there. Hopefully this will be a working vacation for me and he’ll take care of business.”
Catalina Eddy will be going back to two turns after sprinting in his last three races, one a victory in an entry-level allowance race coming down the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in February.
“He can get the distance,” trainer Craig Lewis insists. “He won going long at Santa Anita so I’m not concerned about that. We got a good post (#2) and a very good rider (Juan Hernandez). Just hope he gets a good trip.”
The 19th running of the California Dreamin’ goes off as Race #9 on Saturday’s 11-race program. Probable post is 6 p.m.
Here’s the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds: On the Whim (Abel Cedillo, 15-1); Catalina Eddy (7/2); Disko Tribute (Edwin Maldonado, 12-1); Passarando (Armando Ayuso, 15-1); Coalinga Road (Umberto Rispoli, 10-1); Proof He Rides (Kyle Frey, 12-1); None Above the Law (Antonio Fresu, 15-1); Carmelita’s Man (Tiago Pereira, 8-1); Oubabe (Kazushi Kimura, 12-1); Old Pal (Mike Smith, 3-1), and Barely Funtional (Mario Gutierrez, 9/2).
HANDICAPPING SEMINARS THIS WEEKEND AT DEL MAR
Del Mar offers a series of handicapping seminars this weekend. Every Saturday and Sunday during the summer meet, top handicappers will offer their expertise prior to the races. The sessions are free at the Plaza de Mexico behind the grandstand, west of the paddock. On Saturday, host Frank Scatoni will have horseplayer Ryan Anderson as his handicapping guest. On Sunday, Dan Smith and Mike Shutty, co-founder of Horse Racing Nation and author of ‘Super Screener’, will lend their insights into the races. The seminars start at 1 p.m. and last 30-to-35 minutes.
UNCORKED WINE FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY AT DEL MAR
Grab a glass, give it a swirl and enjoy some of the world’s finest wines at the Uncorked Wine Festival at Del Mar Saturday. Over 100 wines will be available for your tasting with some of San Diego’s best food trucks parked nearby and the horse racing just steps away. Pouring begins at 2 p.m. at the Seaside Cabana on the west end of the blacktop. Tickets are available online. You must be 21 or older.
COOLING OUT: It was a John Sadler opening daily double on Thursday with Supa Speed winning the first race and Bright Leaf taking the second. It briefly gave Sadler the lead in the trainers standings with six victories. “We’re off to a good start, doing well,” Sadler says. “We’ve got a pretty good weekend coming up so we’re out here working, doing good.” Phil D’Amato would score in the sixth race to tie Sadler…It was a country singer’s exacta in the seventh race Thursday. Loretta Lynn was first, Nanci Griffith finished second. Hunch players were rewarded with an $11.40 exacta payoff…Trainer Bob Baffert is in New York this weekend with National Treasure, who will run in Saturday’s G1 Whitney at Saratoga…Trainer Brendan Walsh has accompanied his Kentucky Oaks winner, Pretty Mischievous, to Del Mar for this weekend’s Clement Hirsch. The other shipper in Saturday’s feature, Scylla (pronounced See-lah), is being tended to by Bill Mott’s assistant trainer Javier Cardona. He had the filly out galloping on the main track and schooling in the paddock the last two days…Notable works for Friday: Dirt – Formidable Man (4f, :51.00); Sweet Azteca (4f, :47.40) and Ruby Nell (7f, 1:26.80). A total of 104 horses put in official works at Del Mar Friday morning.