Little Hidden Port Faces the Challenge of a Lifetime with U.S. Debut in G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes

Trained by John Sadler and racing for Hronis Racing, the same team behind Full Serrano, the daughter of Puerto Escondido will try to pull off a stunner at Del Mar; Chilean mare Richi is among her six rivals

Little Hidden Port, From La Plata to Del Mar With a Distaff Dream /HLP

DEL MAR, California (Special for Turf Diario).- Making a debut in the U.S. and winning a Grade 1 is no easy feat for South American horses, who often go through a period of adaptation. But that’s exactly the kind of challenge Little Hidden Port will take on this Saturday at Del Mar, as the Argentine-bred filly was confirmed Wednesday among the seven starters for the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. (8.5f, dirt, $400,000). A "Win and You’re In" qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the race offers a golden opportunity—and a tall task—for the daughter of Puerto Escondido.

Now trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing, the same team behind established U.S. runner Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast), Little Hidden Port will break from post six under Armando Ayuso, who was aboard El Encinal (Chi) (Il Campione) in last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Turf. Her opposition includes six rivals, notably Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke) and the outstanding Kopion (Omaha Beach).

Unraced since taking the G2 Clásico Los Criadores at La Plata in mid-December, Little Hidden Port has posted a steady string of works in preparation, all at five furlongs and all solid if not flashy: 1:01.80, 1:01.20, 1:01.60, 1:00.60, and 1:01.20.

Trained by Richard Mandella and to be piloted by Kazushi Kimura, Kopion is out for redemption after finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca) in the GII Great Lady M. S. at Los Alamitos going 6.5 furlongs, a race run in record time. That loss snapped a three-race winning streak for the Spendthrift Farm homebred, which included victories in the GI La Brea S., GII Santa Monica S., and GI Derby Distaff S.

Meanwhile, Bob Baffert has Richi in peak form, and the filly will have Antonio Fresu in the irons. She captured the GII Santa Maria S. last time out and had previously finished behind Kopion in the Santa Monica. Improving steadily, Richi enters as a serious contender.

Baffert also sends out Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo), a last-out winner of the GII Santa Margarita S., while Royal Spa (Violence) is another formidable name. The Shawnee S. (G3) winner was most recently runner-up in the GI La Troienne S. and will be ridden by Héctor Berríos.

Mahina (Bolt d’Oro) has been knocking on the door in graded company and adds further depth to the field, which is rounded out by Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon), heroine of the GII Starlet S. and GII Santa Anita Oaks last season. She hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the GII Zenyatta S. last September.

It will be a tall order for Little Hidden Port, but alongside Richi, she’ll be carrying the banner for South American breeding this Saturday at Del Mar.