Seismic Beauty has more to come, says Baffert

DEL MAR, Calif. - Six months ago, Seismic Beauty was a maiden race winner from summer 2024 being prepared for a comeback. Things have changed remarkably.

Seismic Beauty is California’s leading older female and a bold filly who has shown startling improvement in recent starts.

On Saturday at Del Mar, Seismic Beauty won her third consecutive start, and the most prestigious race of her career, in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares.

The remarkable thing is that trainer Bob Baffert expects more from Seismic Beauty in coming starts.

“She’s still maturing and I think she’ll improve off of that,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle.

Seismic Beauty, a 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 1 with her win on Saturday.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Seismic Beauty led throughout the $400,500 Hirsch, the richest race of the Del Mar summer meeting for fillies and mares.

Seismic Beauty was timed in 1:42.33.

“She makes it look like she’s going easy, but she’s going really fast,” Baffert said.

Seismic Beauty earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 110, which ties for the third highest of the year in an American dirt race through Saturday and is the highest of the year for any runner at two turns.

The 4-year-old filly Ways and Means earned a 111 speed figure for her win in the Grade 2 Bed o’ Roses Stakes at seven furlongs for fillies and mares at Saratoga on June 6, a figure equaled by the 4-year-old gelding Book’em Danno with his win in the Grade 2 Alfred Vanderbilt Stakes at six furlongs at Saratoga on July 19.

Seismic Beauty, who is owned by the My Racehorse syndicate and Peter Leidel, has won 4 of 7 starts. She won her second and final start of 2024 in a six-furlong maiden race at Del Mar last August and did not race again until February of this year at Santa Anita, where she finished second in an allowance race at six furlongs.

“She’s a big filly and she had to grow into herself,” Baffert said. “Those big fillies like that you’ve got to wait on them a bit.”

Seismic Beauty’s current winning streak includes a 10-length win in an allowance race at a mile on April 18 in her first start around two turns. She followed with a five-length win in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on May 25.

In the Hirsch, Seismic Beauty finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Kopion, the winner of three consecutive seven-furlong stakes from late December to early May, including the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Kopion was second to Sweet Azteca in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 5. In the Hirsch Stakes, Kopion closed from last of six to be closest to the front at the finish. Kopion was expected to race closer to the lead.

“She ate a lot of dirt,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

Mandella said on Sunday that he has not finalized race plans for Kopion, who could be considered for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at seven furlongs or the Distaff at 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 1.

“We’ll watch her and see how she comes out of it,” Mandella said.

Baffert had three of the six starters in the Hirsch, finishing third and fifth with Richi and Nothing Like You. Richi was third for much of the race, and briefly second in the stretch before being passed by Kopion.

“I would have loved to run 1-2,” Baffert said. “I’ll take the W.”

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