Dogtag will switch to dirt in Grade 1 Clement Hirsch

Dogtag, a 4-year-old stakes-winning filly on turf, will have her stakes debut on the main track in Sunday’s Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.

Dogtag has won her last two starts, both on turf at Santa Anita – a second-level allowance race at a mile on May 16 and the Possibly Perfect Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on June 14. A winner of 4 of 9 starts, Dogtag was third in her only previous appearance on dirt in a seven-furlong maiden race at Saratoga in August 2018 when trained by Chad Brown.

Owned by Larry, Nancy, and Jaime Roth’s LNJ Foxwoods Stable, Dogtag joined current trainer Richard Mandella in California last winter.

“She’s always trained well on the dirt,” Mandella said. “I’ve worked her with horses and she’s had dirt in her face.

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“I know it’s a tough race. She’s as good as she’ll ever be. I think it’s a good time to try it.”

Mandella said Umberto Rispoli will have the mount. Through Monday, Rispoli led all riders with 13 wins, two more than Flavien Prat.

The $250,000 Hirsch Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles and is led by three Grade 1 winners – Ce Ce, Hard Not to Love, and Ollie’s Candy – as well as Fighting Mad, the winner of the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita on May 31. Hard Not to Love and Ce Ce were second and third in the Santa Maria.

Ollie’s Candy, who won the 2019 Clement Hirsch, was third in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on June 13.

The winner of the Clement Hirsch Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Nov. 7.