South American mares have often performed well in Del Mar's Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1), and this year both Chile and Argentina have representatives in Richi and Little Hidden Port, respectively.
Richi has the better chance in the 1 1/16-mile dirt event Aug. 2, and if either one wins, she will follow a tradition that includes Hall of Famers Bayakoa and Paseana. Though Argentina-bred females have the better record, Chilean-bred Infinidad captured what was then called the Chula Vista Handicap in 1987 for trainer Charlie Whittingham.
"Those South American mares are tough if you get a good one," said Richi's trainer, Bob Baffert, after she won the April 19 Santa Maria Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Baffert has entered three in the $400,000 Hirsch, a 1 1/16-mile dirt contest Aug. 2 that is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event, providing the winner automatic, paid entry into the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) this fall at Del Mar. The trainer took the past two renewals of this with the talented Adare Manor and could extend that streak.
Richi put it all together in the Santa Maria, crushing her rivals by 4 1/2 lengths under Antonio Fresu, who returns on her in the Hirsch.
"She's improving—she's been here long enough now that she's starting to relax," Baffert said after the Santa Maria.
Baffert also figures to have a large following for Seismic Beauty, a Maryland-bred who competes for MyRacehorse and Peter Leidel. The winner's circle overflowed when Seismic Beauty captured the May 25 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita by five lengths in her stakes debut. Fresu rode that day, and now jockey Juan Hernandez returns aboard her for the Hirsch.
Nothing Like You, Baffert's third runner, hasn't raced since finishing fourth in the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) last September. She won that year's Santa Anita Oaks (G2), and in 2023 captured the Starlet Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course and the Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar.
Kopion defeated Richi at seven furlongs in the Feb. 1 Santa Monica Stakes (G2), the middle leg of a three-stakes winning streak for the Richard Mandella trainee. Most recently, Kopion ran second to come-backing Sweet Azteca at Los Alamitos in the July 5 Great Lady M Stakes (G2). A dual grade 1 winner, Kopion has tried more than a mile only once previously, when fourth in Nothing Like You's Santa Anita Oaks, the only time she hasn't finished first or second.
Royal Spa raced this spring and summer at Churchill Downs, where the Rodolphe Brisset trainee won the May 31 Shawnee Stakes (G3) and ran second to reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the June 28 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2).
Trainer John Sadler, who has won the Hirsch five times, brings the other South American. Little Hidden Port will be making her United States debut, coming off of back-to-back group victories in her native Argentina late last year.
Mahina, a longshot trained by Patrick Gallagher, rounds out the field.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 2, 2025, Race 10Entries: Clement L. Hirsch S. Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Seismic Beauty (MD) Juan J. Hernandez 123 Bob Baffert 2/1 2 2Royal Spa (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 121 Rodolphe Brisset 6/1 3 3Mahina (KY) Mike E. Smith 121 Patrick Gallagher 20/1 4 4Nothing Like You (KY) Drayden Van Dyke 121 Bob Baffert 8/1 5 5Richi (CHI) Antonio Fresu 123 Bob Baffert 3/1 6 6Little Hidden Port (ARG) Armando Ayuso 121 John W. Sadler 12/1 7 7Kopion (KY) Kazushi Kimura 121 Richard E. Mandella 5/2
