A competitive field, highlighted by three top-level scorers, are set to face off Sunday in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar, a “Win and You’re In” for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) scored back-to-back wins in the Mar. 14 GI Beholder Mile and Apr. 18 GI Apple Blossom H. Favored to repeat in the GII Santa Maria S. back at Santa Anita, she could only manage third behind the re-opposing Fighting Mad (New Year’s Day) and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Hard Not to Love (Hard Spun).
Victorious in the GI La Brea S. in December, Hard Not to Love followed suit with a win in the GII Santa Monica S. in February. The one-eyed bay finished second to Ce Ce after setting the pace in the Beholder Mile, but rallied from off the pace in the Santa Maria last time.
Last year’s Hirsch winner Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) looks to successfully defend her title in this event. Third in the Beholder Mile, the dark bay came up just a head short in the Apple Blossom and finished a close third in a blanket finish in Belmont’s GI Ogden Phipps S. June 13.
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