Eunomia Pulled Off an Upset at Del Mar as Saffie Joseph Jr. Conquered California Once Again
- Turf Diario
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The daughter of Tiz the Law surprised the top West Coast fillies and mares in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1), securing her spot in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and confirming the outstanding form of the Canadian trainer in major California stakes.
DEL MAR, California (Special for Turf Diario).— The connection between Saffie Joseph Jr. and California's major stakes continues to write memorable chapters. This time, it was Eunomia who kept the romance alive by winning the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) with commanding authority, while securing her place in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).
Representing St. Elias Stables and WSS Racing, the daughter of Tiz the Law traveled from the East Coast largely overlooked by the betting public, breaking at 12-1 odds before prevailing by half a length over Om N Joy (Om) over 1,700 meters in Del Mar's signature contest.
The race was largely defined during the opening fractions. Simply Joking (Practical Joke) and defending champion, race favorite Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo), engaged in a heated duel for the lead through a demanding 46s81/100 for the first 800 meters—a scenario that Ultimately played into the hands of the late closers.
"From the moment she broke so sharp, our fate was sealed because the other mare came right after her," explained Michael McCarthy, trainer of Simply Joking. "Besides, the inside path was not the place to be on this track all week."
As the pacesetters began to tire, 23-year-old jockey Micah Husbands bided his time with Eunomia in an ideal stalkers' position. It was a milestone afternoon for the young rider, who was making both his debut at Del Mar and his first mount aboard the filly. "I always dreamed of riding here. I watched Del Mar races as a kid and prayed that one day this opportunity would come," he remarked with emotion. Joseph's instructions had been straightforward: "He asked me to help her relax because she can get keen. My goal was to keep her calm and stay out of her way. We knew the two speed horses would battle up front, so we just waited for our moment."
When the stretch arrived, Eunomia responded emphatically. She first wore down Om N Joy before taking control over Simply Joking, stopping the clock in 1m44s10/100 to secure the first G1 victory of her career.
The victory also guarantees a direct berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff via the Win and You're In series.
For Joseph, the win represents another masterclass in shipping cross-country to conquer California's primary stages. It all began with Soul of an Angel (Atreides), winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar. Then came victories with Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) and Be Your Best(Muhaarar) in the 2025 Gamely Stakes (G1T), alongside a second Gold Cup title captured this year by Forged Steel(Vekoma).
Eunomia arrived in his barn late last year after making her first ten starts under the care of Victoria Oliver.
Earlier in 2026, she finished third in the Royal Delta Stakes (G3), second in the Doubledogdare Stakes (G2), and won the Sandy Bottom Stakes (L), though she was coming off an uncharacteristic performance in the Ruffian Stakes(G2).
"We simply ran her back too quickly trying to chase a stakes win," admitted Joseph from Saratoga. "When you rush things, these set-backs happen."
The original plan was to point for the Shuvee Stakes (G2), but forecast rain completely altered the roadmap. "We knew she dislikes off tracks and that it wasn't going to rain at Del Mar. Furthermore, running here gave us multiple valuable opportunities to earn a G1 placing."
The gamble paid off to perfection.
Now, the trainer has a new target on the horizon. The upcoming Pacific Classic (G1) on August 22 could be the next California mission for his powerhouse stable, this time with Navajo Warrior (Candy Ride).
"We know horses like Nysos (Nyquist) and possibly Knightsbridge (Nyquist) will be lining up, but our contender has evolved dramatically and we feel he continues to improve race after race," Joseph projected.
In the meantime, Eunomia completed her mission: capturing one of California's top stakes for fillies and mares while stamping her ticket to the Breeders' Cup, proving that the love affair between Saffie Joseph Jr. and the West Coast is far from over.
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