DEL MAR — The second Grade I stakes of Del Mar’s summer season on Saturday shapes up as Kopion versus trainer Bob Baffert.
And the Richard Mandella-trained Kopion is outnumbered 3-to-1.
Baffert is sending out brilliant fillies Seismic Beauty and Nothing Like You and mare Richi in his bid to win a third straight Clement Hirsch Stakes — a $400,000, win-and-you’re-in automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar this fall.
Seismic Beauty (Juan Hernandez) is a narrow, 2-1 morning-line favorite over Kopion (5-2, Kazushi Kimura) with Richi (3-1, Antonio Fresu) the third pick in the field of seven older fillies and mares going 1 1/16-miles.
Kopion, a 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach, is seeking her third Grade I win and is coming off a runner-up finish to Sweet Azteca in the Grade II Great Lady at Los Alamitos on July 5. Kopion, a 1-5 favorite in that race, lost a left front shoe.
“Sometimes horses do that and it doesn’t bother them, but she was a little sore,” said Mandella.
Kopion had won three straight graded stakes, including the Grade Is Derby City Distaff (on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs) and La Brea at Santa Anita last Dec. 26, before that loss.
Kopion is considered a top female sprinter. But she is going a mile or longer for only the third time in her career and is winless at the distance.
Baffert won the past two Hirschs with Adare Manor and is seeking a third win in the race over the past five years.
Seismic Beauty is coming off a five-length win in the Grade II Santa Margarita May 25 at Santa Anita. Richi won the Grade II Santa Maria on April 19 at Santa Anita in her most recent start. Fresu was aboard in both those wins. Seismic Beauty is a 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo. Richi is a 5-year-old daughter of Practical Joke.
“Seismic Beauty is doing fantastic,” said Baffert. “Both my fillies are good horses.”
Nothing Like You won the 2023 Desi Arnaz at Del Mar as a 2-year-old.
Double dealing
Friday was a banner day for owner-breeder Nick Alexander, trainer Phil D’Amato and jockey Armando Ayuso.
Stablemates Speedy Wilson and Shea Brennan, owned by Alexander and trained by D’Amato, finished 1-2 in the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes — a seven-furlong run on the dirt for 3-year-old Cal-breds.
Favored Speedy Wilson ($5.20) took over at the top of the stretch and powered away to a 1¾ victory to give Ayuso a second win for a second straight day, moving him into a tie for third in the jockey standings.
“I’m happy for Nick,” said D’Amato. “He’s been a huge supporter of mine since I started training. It was great to see him run one-two with his homebreds. Speedy Wilson is a real deal. I can see him competing in open company and two turns down the road. He really wants to run all day. That was a great ride from Armando.”
“He broke really well today and was in good position,” said Ayuso. “He did everything perfectly after a nine-month lay-off. He is just a good horse and more mature now as a 3-year-old. I feel the longer he goes, the better he is going to be. And thanks to D’Amato and Alexander. They have always supported me.”
Impressive resume
Kings River Knight is the morning-line, even-money favorite to win Saturday’s other stakes race – the $150,000 California Dreamin Stakes – a 1 1/16-miles turf test for 11 older Cal-bred horses.
Kings River Knight (Hernandez) has won 12 of 19 career starts with five second-place finishes and has gone off as the favorite in his last 11 straight races. The 7-year-old gelded son of Acclamation was the 2024 Cal-bred Turf Horse of the Year and is the most celebrated Cal-bred since the retirement of The Chosen Vron. He has won seven of his last eight races under Hernandez.
Notable
Horse owner and racing executive Mike Pegram has been named the 2025 winner of the Pincay Award for “serving racing with integrity, dedication, determination and distinction.” Pegram is known for his association with Baffert and their near miss in the 1998 Triple Crown with Real Quiet.
• There was a record Del Mar claim made Thursday. Holly and David Wilson claimed the 2-year-old ridgling Mr. A.P., a son of American Pharoah, for $150,000. Mr. A.P. placed second in his racing debut Thursday, finishing 5¼ lengths behind Dirty Rich. The old Del Mar claiming record was $125,000 in 2005 on a 4-year-old colt named Smoocher.
• The winning ticket for $476,322 in Thursday’s Pick 5 was a computer-assisted-wagering ticket purchased for $108,000, according to track officials.