Shedaresthedevil is hoping for Clement L. Hirsch's second win

Win sea's Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) has been an excellent barometer for championship-caliber runners on more than one occasion, something to keep in mind when She dares the devil can repeat their 2021 Hirsch victory on August 6th.

Consider that since the former Chula Vista Handicap became a deer in 2000, only three distaffers have won the race two or more times. Should Shedaresthedevil become the fourth, she would join the distinguished company of the 2002 Horse of the Year Azerbaijani (Hirsch winner 2002-03), Horse of the Year 2010 Zenyatta (stag winner from 2008-10) and 2015 three-year-old filly champion Starwind (2016-17 Hirsch Winner).

These three horses lived in Southern California with trainers Laura de Seroux, John Shirreffs and John Sadler. Shedaresthedevil was able to accomplish something none of these three could: win as a shipper.

Shedaresthedevil began her career at the age of 2 in California under the tutelage of Simon Callaghan. However, since her three-year-old season, Brad Cox has been coaching the daughter of Daredevil from its base in Kentucky. Like Cox did last year, he will send her to the Stag, a 1 1/16-mile event for females 3 years elderly and older that also gives the Longines Breeders a Win and You're In spot. Cup distaff (G1).

Shedaresthedevil's two wins in five starts since last year's Stag have both come together Churchill Downs. She captured the Locust Grove Stakes (G3) on September 18 and the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) on July 2.

Luckily, Geroux is spending the summer in Del Mar and has ridden two winners through August 3rd. He will be back aboard Shedaresthedevil, who finished fifth in the field of seven.

Owners Whisper Hill Farm, Flurry Racing Stables and Qatar Racing purchased Shedaresthedevil, a 5-year-old filly from Kentucky Starship warp speed from congratulations for $5 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.

Shedaresthedevil will compete against an entirely novel group of Southern California runners in this edition of the Hirsch. The newcomers are five-year-olds of the same age Samurai charm And Blue stripe ; 4 year olds Private mission , fortune teller And Lisette ; and 3 years elderly desert twilight .

However, no three-year-old has ever won the stag You In 2011 it barely managed to do that Ultra blend Won.

Photo: Skip Dickstein

Desert Dawn trains ahead of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs

Desert Dawn brings with it considerable references. She is trained by Phil D'Amato Santa Annie Park Leading coach who took the lead at Del Mar early on. A daughter of Carpet stallion Cupid from the honor and glory mare Ashley's Fame Desert Dawn won the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) this year. She has since placed third in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Summertime Oaks (G2), stumbling badly at the start.

Mother-daughter team Elena and Hollie Crim bred and raced Desert Dawn in Arizona on behalf of their H&E Ranch.

“She’s adorable – she’s very sweet,” Elena said. “We also raised the mother.”

Desert Dawn drew Post 3 and Umberto Rispoli, their jockey in 2022, will ride again.

The deer has attracted two Santa Anita Oaks winners. Soothsay won the race in 2021, followed by a second-place finish in the Summertime Oaks and a victory in the Indiana Oaks (G3). An injury forced Soothsay, who hasn't started since the Indiana Oaks, to take a break. Richard Mandella trains the Kentucky-raised daughter of Distorted humor . Mike Smith will be riding the filly for the first time, and she has pulled the rail.

Juan Hernandez, who led the jockeys at Santa Anita and is currently atop the Del Mar standings, will pilot Private Mission from the 4th position. Bob Baffert trains the Kentucky-raised daughter of Into disaster but while Baffert was serving his suspension, Sean McCarthy trained her to win the Santa Maria Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on June 18. Last year, Private Mission won the Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar and the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita for Baffert