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2009 Breeder's Cup Classic winner Zenyatta will face five rivals in Saturday's Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.
Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch
Del Mar
1 1/16 miles
Three year olds and up
Purse: $300,000
Post time: 6:00 PDT
PP |
Horse |
Jockey |
ML |
1 |
Princess Taylor (GB) |
Espinoza V |
15/1 |
2 |
Made for Magic |
Berrio O A |
12/1 |
3 |
Spring Style (IRE) |
Valenzuela P A |
20/1 |
4 |
Dance to My Tune |
Flores D R |
12/1 |
5 |
Zenyatta |
Smith M E |
1/5 |
6 |
Rinterval (IRE) |
Bejarano R |
10/1 |
1-Princess Taylor is making her third start in North America after a couple of tries on the lawn at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. She tried the boys in the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano but showed little to nothing in that race. A nice comeback effort in the Grade 2 Beverly Hills saw her come up a length short to Turning Top.
2-Made for Magic won the Grade 2 Milady in mid-May at Hollywood Park but finished well back of Rachel Alexandra in the Fluer di Lis at Churchill. She then ran a so-so fourth in the A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood last time out.
3-Spring Style (IRE) has spent most of her recent races running on the turf and has only wins against N2X, N1X, and Maiden Special Weight company to her credit.
4-Dance to My Tune is the probable early speed in this event and finished a good second to Zenyatta in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita on March 13th. However, she hasn't won a race since November of 2007 at Woodbine.
5-Zenyatta came the closest she's ever come to losing a race when she ran in this spot last summer, finishing a head in front of Anabass Creation (IRE). If she wins on Saturday it will be her 18th straight victory and her third win in the Hirsch.
6-Rinterval (IRE) will likely ensure that the pace on the front end of this race is sold as she's been keen to run early in her last two starts at Arlington Park at seven furlongs and a mile.