Shedaresthedevil wins third Grade 1!

Shedaresthedevil enhanced her claims for the Breeders' Cup Distaff when winning the third Grade 1 of her career in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Sunday, her rider Florent Geroux sporting the Qatar Racing colours.

This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Del Mar and trainer Brad Cox shipped 2020 Gr.1 Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil to the track for the perfect prep in the Clement Hirsch, where she beat four rivals by three and a quarter lengths and more.

As an added bonus, the Clement Hirsch was a "Win & You're In" for the Distaff on Saturday 6 November.

Four-year-old Shedaresthedevil, by Daredevil, lined up as the 13/10 favourite and her supporters never had a moments worry as she sat on the heels of front runner and three-time Graded winner Venetian Harbor before taking over 2 furlongs out.

Venetian Harbor tried to stay with Shedaresthedevil but the latter had too much in reserve. Shedaresthedevil completed the 1 1/16 miles on the fast track in 1:45.38. Venetian Harbor finished second, herself three and a quarter lengths ahead of Paige Anne.

Shedaresthedevil added to her April success in the Gr.1 La Troienne Stakes at Churchills, as well as her March return win in the Gr.2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Her jockey 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."

Eric Gary, an assistant to Cox, saddled Shedaresthedevil for the ownership group of Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms.

He said: "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. Being around her this morning, I had a really good feeling that she was going to run big today."

Gary added that Shedaresthedevil, who has earned $2,047,318 from an 8-2-4 record in 15 starts, is scheduled to fly back to Cox's Kentucky base on August 2. Then she'll be back at Del Mar in November.