Shedaresthedevil Ships & Wins Hirsch

DEL MAR, CA – Gearing up for a potential run at the year-end World Championships held over the same oval, Shedaresthedevil shipped into town and won Sunday’s $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar.

The Clement L. Hirsch is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Shedaresthedevil receiving an automatic berth in the Distaff at Del Mar this November.

Shedaresthedevil broke well from the far outside post under regular rider Florent Geroux as the 6/5 favorite in the field of five older fillies and mares, but Venetian Harbor was quicker to the lead and set out on a lengthy early advantage.

Venetian Harbor posted opening fractions of :23.30 and :47.21 before longshot Paige Anne made a mid-backstretch move up the rail to briefly challenge for the lead.

Shedaresthedevil made her move heading into the far turn and met the pacesetter’s throat latch at the 1/4 pole, then straightened for home with a slight advantage.

Venetian Harbor lost contact at the 3/16 pole as Shedaresthedevil drew off to win the fast 1 1/16-mile dirt route by 3 1/4 lengths.

The Brad Cox trainee stopped the clock in 1:45.38.

“I’m very pleased,” Geroux said.”The idea was to get her to break alertly, then get a good spot. That’s exactly what happened. She ran her race today and she’s very good when she does. I’d have to say she’s up there with the best mares I’ve ever ridden. This is her third Grade 1 win, and the fact that she showed she can run well on the track where the Breeders’ Cup will be held, that’s a good thing, too.”

Paige Anne was 3 1/4 lengths behind in third. The 3/2 second choice As Time Goes By was fourth ahead of Cover Version to complete the order of finish.

Clockstrikestwelve and Warren’s Showtime scratched.

Shedaresthedevil’s win was her third of the year and came 1 start after suffering her first 2021 defeat in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. The 4-year-old Daredevil filly improved her record to 15-8-2-4 with $2,047,318 earned for co-owners Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing, and Big Aut Farms.

“We sat right off the lead, nice, calm, and relaxed, and when it was time to go, she showed up like she was supposed to,” said assistant Eric Gary. “We had a good stalking position, and when I saw they went the 1/2 in :47, I thought we were going to be OK. Being around her this morning, I had a really good feeling that she was going to run big today. She flies back tomorrow (to Kentucky) with some other horses and then I guess she’ll be back in November.”

Shedaresthedevil returned $4.60 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.60 to show. Venetian Harbor brought back $3.20 to place and $3.60 to show. Paige Anne paid $5.80 to show.