Hirsch Stakes (Grade 1) (BC)- $300.000 Purse
DMR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
August 1, 2021

The field may not be large, but that does not mean there isn’t anything to race for on Sunday in the Grade 1 Hirsch Stakes. Points for the BC Distaff are on the line, as well as the $300.000 purse, and the trainers entered have to like their chances seeing only a field of six. That’s a couple less than last year’s race, which was won by Obvious Deception, for Nakamura Stables. The still active mare went on to finish sixth in the BC Distaff later in the year. It should be noted that while this race is open to three year olds, there are none participating, so all will carry 124 pounds. Here’s the field!

#1- Fair On Friday (Gdp Inc, ridden by G Saez)- In 2019, this mare was able to get into the BC Distaff thanks to winning the Grade 1 Spinster a month prior to that race. She was seventh that day, and would not win a graded stake again until this April, when she won the Grade 3 Doubledogdare at KEE. The race I like more than that was her last start, the Grade 2 Santa Maria, where she was second against stronger competition. She’s running well, so this is the time to try this type of race.

#2- Forever Phooey Party (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- The trainer was partying after her last start, when she won the Grade 2 Fleur De Lis Handicap at DS last month. It was a much needed result after a group of races where she was hot and cold. We can still say that is the case, though, so it is important for Forever Phooey Party to follow that win up with another strong race here.

#3- Grand Cyclone (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by Ru Gonzalez)- Who said that horses can’t go wire to wire in big races? This is the way that Grand Cyclone likes to run, going right to the front and then trying to stay there all the way to the end. She typically succeeds in this, with a win win and two seconds in her last three starts, showing that she hasn’t had to change her style. Those are all seven furlongs, though, and when she did run at least a mile, she had a harder time holding on. I’m not convinced that Maxmillion sticks with the same tactic in this race and Ru Gonzalez will need to make sure that Grand Cyclone stays strong to the wire.

#4- Empire World (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J K Court)- Another entry by Maxmillion Farm, and we can almost be sure that she will not be on the lead early, too. Empire World enters this race off of a good looking win in the Great Lady M Stakes at LA at the start of the month, which for her, was her second graded win in a row. She was close to the front that day, but has also come from a little further off the pace, too. This is another who has not gone long much in her career, but has won half (8 of 16) of her races to date.

#5- Why You Do That (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- After having success on the grass as a three year old, Why You Do That was moved to the dirt in hopes of even better results. This did not pay off initially, but Mb Stables stuck with it, and that patience would be rewarded in early June when she won the Grade 3 Bed O Roses Handicap at BEL. Struggled in carrying seven more pounds at the Princess Rooney, which was won Grand Cyclone, and she’ll have to carry one more pound here than she did there. Four of six in hitting the board at over a mile.

#6- Dream Woman (Fractious, ridden by D Davis)- She has not been with Fractious long, as the trainer just picked her up on Monday for a total of $550.000. The immediate entry shows that he has a big plan with her, and this is a horse that ran in the HIrsch last year. Didn’t finish well, but she has never had a bad race since then. Hits the board a ton, and has three consecutive second place finishes. Wins? Well, not since last June. More of the same today.

Prediction: 4-6-3-1

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES