Surface the question mark for Fiftyshadesofhay

DEL MAR, Calif. – Fiftyshadesofhay has won four stakes in her career, all on dirt, and has not raced on the Del Mar Polytrack since she finished fourth in her debut in September 2012. So, trainer Bob Baffert isn’t sure what to expect from her in Saturday’s $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.

Fiftyshadesofhay won the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park on May 11 and was a well-beaten third behind winner Molly Morgan in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 14. In the Hirsch, Fiftyshadesofhay will try for the fifth time to get a Grade 1 win. Fiftyshadesofhay was second in two Grade 1 races in 2013 – the Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita in March and the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga in September.

Baffert said he was uncertain whether Fiftyshadesofhay will take to the surface Saturday.

“She’s worked okay on it,” Baffert said. “I’ve been working her by herself, so she hasn’t been real aggressive.”

Fiftyshadesofhay worked six furlongs in 1:12 on July 22, the fastest of four works at the distance.

Fiftyshadesofhay is part of a projected field of six, including Broken Sword, Doinghardtimeagain, Iotapa, More Chocolate, and Parrando.

Iotapa will be favored. She won the Grade 1 Vanity Stakes at Santa Anita on June 14.