Clement Hirsch begins homestand for Secret Spice

DEL MAR, Calif. – When Secret Spice returned to California after a game second in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes on May 3 at Churchill Downs, she had seen the last of an airplane for the foreseeable future. Trainer Richard Baltas said he is gearing her toward races in Southern California.

“I didn’t want to over-race her,” Baltas said. “We’re trying to get her to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.”

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Secret Spice starts for the first time since the La Troienne in Sunday’s Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar. The winner of the $300,000 Hirsch Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Distaff on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

The Hirsch Stakes, the leading race for females at the Del Mar summer meeting, drew a field of seven, including five stakes winners. Secret Spice’s main rivals are La Force and Paradise Woods, the first two finishers of the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes on June 1 at Santa Anita, and Ollie’s Candy, who won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita in June 2018.

The other three are longshots – Just a Smidge, third in the Santa Maria; Queen Bee to You, who won the Bertrando Stakes for California-breds; and Spring in the Wind, a new arrival to Southern California.

KEY CONTENDERS

Secret Spice, by Discreet Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 95-100-78

◗ Secret Spice won her graded stakes debut in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 30 at Santa Anita, closing from fourth to win by 2 1/4 lengths over the multiple stakes winner Marley’s Freedom.

◗ In the La Troienne, Secret Spice was always near the front and led by a length with a furlong remaining. She was caught in the final sixteenth and finished a length behind She’s a Julie.

“It looked like she’d win the race at the eighth pole,” Baltas said. “She got late in that long stretch.

“I thought it was a good race because of the ship. She’s trained great since.”

◗ In recent weeks, Secret Spice has had quick workouts at Santa Anita and Del Mar, notably five furlongs in 59.60 seconds here July 16.

◗ For the Clement Hirsch, leading jockey Flavien Prat replaces Geovanni Franco. Prat rode Secret Spice in two allowance races in October and February, while Franco was aboard in the Beholder Mile and La Troienne.

“Geo did nothing wrong,” Baltas said. “We wanted to go with the leading rider.”

◗ Secret Spice was owned solely by the Little Red Feather partnership for the La Troienne. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has since joined as a partner.

Paradise Woods, by Union Rags

Last 3 Beyers: 84-100-94

◗ Paradise Woods raced near the front and scored a 10 1/2-length win in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on April 27 at Santa Anita. She was second at 1-5 in the Santa Maria, bobbling at the start and racing in traffic on the turn. Paradise Woods finished 1 1/4 lengths behind La Force.

“I still thought I’d win at the eighth pole,” jockey Mike Smith said Thursday. “La Force had such a jump on me.

“In a weird way, I was pleased with her. She settled, which she didn’t always do. She didn’t throw in the towel.

“Let’s hope she can get away well, and we’ll see what happens.”

◗ Trained by John Shirreffs since December, Paradise Woods won two Grade 1 races at 3 in 2017 and was third in the BC Distaff here that season.

La Force, by Power

Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-82

◗ Making her 25th start, La Force won a stakes for the first time in the Santa Maria. She closed from last of five to take the lead in early stretch.

◗ Trained by Paddy Gallagher, La Force drew the rail Sunday, which jockey Drayden Van Dyke said may not be an issue because of her running style.

“She always breaks good, and I can get her into the race and see how it develops, see what others are doing,” Van Dyke said. “She comes from off of it anyway.”

◗ Last July, La Force was second by a half-length to Unique Bella in the Hirsch Stakes.

“She’s so consistent,” Van Dyke said. “If the big favorite doesn’t fire her ‘A’ race, we have a chance.”