ARCADIA, Calif. – The California summer filly and mare dirt division is gaining support from an unlikely origin – turf. Om N Joy’s last-to-first victory in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, seven days after she finished last in a turf stakes, earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure and a start in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Aug. 1 at Del Mar. “I like to dream, and you know what [the Hirsch] might mean down the road,” trainer Aggie Ordonez said after Kent Desormeaux rode Om N Joy to victory in the Santa Margarita. The 4-year-old filly’s next goal is to gain a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff by winning the Hirsch, a Win and You’re In. Santa Margarita two-three finishers Simply Joking and Seismic Beauty could aim for the Hirsch, pending their recovery from a blazing pace battle that left both reeling in the Santa Margarita. Simply Joking set fractions of 45.37 seconds and 1:09.30 while hounded by Seismic Beauty in the 1 1/8-mile race. Simply Joking finished 3 3/4 lengths behind winner Om N Joy. It was another six lengths back to odds-on third-place finisher Seismic Beauty. Simply Joking won the Grade 3 Santa Maria Stakes in her previous start. Seismic Beauty was making her first start since finishing next to last in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Seismic Beauty won the Hirsch last summer at Del Mar. While the turf-to-dirt switch proved the winning move for Om N Joy in the Santa Margarita, turf filly Thought Process also may be considered for the Hirsch on dirt. Thought Process won the Grade 1 Gamely on May 25, after which trainer Phil D’Amato suggested a move to dirt is under consideration. “She has been training so good on the dirt, so we’ll see what we do at Del Mar,” D’Amato said, hinting at the Hirsch. “We’d like to get her to the Breeders’ Cup, and that would be a mile and [three-sixteenths]” on turf. :: Play Santa Anita racing with confidence. Get DRF Past Performances, Clocker Reports, and more. The shorter 1 1/8-mile Breeders’ Cup Distaff would be ideal for Thought Process, who has learned to harness her speed. If she reproduces her turf form on dirt, Thought Process would add depth to a relatively shallow filly and mare dirt division in California. Thought Process earned a 95 Beyer winning the Gamely and would rank among the Hirsch favorites if she makes the surface switch. As for Om N Joy, the plan to wheel her back in the Santa Margarita, one week after she finished last in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes on turf, was deliberate. Ordonez suggested the idea to co-owners and breeders Connie and Jerry Baker even before Om N Joy entered the Fran’s Valentine. “Connie and Jerry and I sat in the office at the barn, and I presented the plan,” Ordonez said. “They said, ‘Well, the grass race is easier, it’s Cal-breds.’ And I said, ‘Well, what about both?’ “It got quiet for minute,” Ordonez said, laughing. The Bakers were surprised. Who runs horses back in one week these days? But it did not take much persuasion to convince them the seven-day turnaround was the right move. Om N Joy is co-owned by Michael Golovko and Terrence Scanlan. Ordonez believed that Om N Joy would handle the quick turnaround. “She’s big and sound, and she doesn’t stress, so the races don’t take a lot out of her,” Ordonez said. Furthermore, the last-place finish by Om N Joy in the Fran’s Valentine was better than it looks on paper. Om N Joy took off after she crossed the wire and galloped out in front of the field. The Santa Margarita upset by Om N Joy ($19.20) was her fifth stakes victory. Sired by Om, she has won six races and $616,703 from 17 starts. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.