Seismic Beauty bids for Clement Hirsch repeat

After earning a 107 Brisnet Speed rating for winning the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar last summer, Seismic Beauty bombed as the 6-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). Her season debut, in the May 30 Santa Margarita (G2), was considerably better but still well below her best.

Which Seismic Beauty shows up for Saturday’s renewal of the 1 1/16-mile Hirsch remains to be seen. What is for certain is that whichever filly or mare wins will receive an automatic bid to the Distaff, to be held at Keeneland in October.

Favored at 2-5 in the Santa Margarita, Seismic Beauty was beaten nearly 10 lengths by Om N Joy, who won convincingly by 3 3/4 lengths over Simply Joking, the speedster who had previously dominated the Santa Maria (G3).

Majestic Oops, who wintered at Oaklawn Park where she won the Azeri (G2), was outclassed in both the Apple Blossom H. (G1) and Shawnee (G2) in her last two but fits well against these. In the Shawnee, Majestic Oops was beaten a little more than three lengths by Splendora, with Immersive second. Both fillies have Breeders’ Cup titles to their credit.

The Clement Hirsch has attracted a couple horses based in the East. Brad Cox sends Juddmonte homebred Chasten after a romping win in the Obeah S. at Delaware Park, her second stakes win in her past three starts. Saffie Joseph, meanwhile, relies on Eunomia, who was a sub-par sixth of seven in the Ruffian (G2) on May 9. She had previously run well in both the Royal Delta (G3) and Doubledogdare (G2).