Desert Dawn will take on older in Clement Hirsch Stakes
The 3-year-old filly Desert Dawn, third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May and in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on June 12, will have her debut against older fillies and mares in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 6, trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday.
The $400,000 Hirsch is run at 1 1/16 miles. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Nov. 5.
Owned and bred by H and E Ranch, Desert Dawn has won 2 of 9 starts and earned $516,150. She won the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks in April and was beaten 2 1/2 lengths at 50-1 by winner Secret Oath in the Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on May 6.
In the Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles, Desert Dawn stumbled at the start and never recovered, finishing 10 lengths behind winner Under the Stars.
“She went right to her nose,” D’Amato said.
Desert Dawn is one of two dirt stakes winners in California this year for D’Amato compared to 14 on turf.
D’Amato led the standings at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, which ended on June 19, and has high expectations for his stable at Del Mar. At the 2021 Del Mar summer meeting, D’Amato finished fourth in the standings with 15 wins, 11 fewer than leader Peter Miller.