Mandella may try Kopion at two turns in Hirsch

The brilliant sprinter Kopion is likely to start at a longer distance for the first time in more than a year in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 2.

A move from sprints to a two-turn race may determine an autumn race schedule for Kopion, trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday.

“Right now, I’m thinking of running her,” Mandella said. “I’ll watch her and make a decision.

“She’s been acting like she wants to go farther. She settles in her races now.”

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Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Kopion has won 5 of 8 starts, including a three-length victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 3, on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby.

The $400,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes is the richest annual race for fillies and mares around two turns in California. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Mandella said the result of the Hirsch will determine a late 2025 schedule for Kopion, who could remain in two-turn races or revert to the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

“It’s early enough that if it didn’t look like the right thing we can freshen her up for the” Filly and Mare Sprint, he said.

On Friday at Del Mar, Kopion worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. “She went easy,” Mandella said.

Kopion was beaten in two graded stakes around two turns in early 2024.

Kopion had a three-race winning streak end with a second-place finish by 1 1/2 lengths to Sweet Azteca in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 5. Sweet Azteca set a track record of 1:14.32.

Kopion lost a shoe in the race, Mandella said.

“She was a little sore cooling out,” he said. “I think you’ve got to give her a little credit.”

Trainer Bob Baffert will have a presence in the Hirsch Stakes, with the intent of nominating Hope Road, Richi, and Seismic Beauty, he said on Friday.

Richi won the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita on April 19. She worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds at Del Mar on Friday.

Hope Road was third in the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 26.

Seismic Beauty won the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles by five lengths in her stakes debut at Santa Anita on May 25. Seismic Beauty worked five furlongs in 59 seconds on Friday.

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