West Coast Grade 1 stakes take on added importance in years when the Breeders’ Cup is contested in California. So, with the World Championships slated for Santa Anita Park on Nov. 3-4, the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes  at Del Mar deserves considerable attention, even with a small field topped by a pair of Bob Baffert-trained fillies. The offer of a free “Win and You’re In” spot in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff for the winner only adds to intrigue surrounding the stakes for fillies and mares.

1. Elm Drive (8-1): Her lone race at 1 1/16 miles resulted in a loss of nearly 28 lengths. While that is hardly encouraging, the sprinter could play in a key role in the outcome because she seems the only one with enough speed to challenge Adare Manor in the early stages. How long she can stick with the Baffert filly and how hard she makes her work could help or hurt the others hoping to reel in Adare Manor.

JOCKEY: Ricardo Gonzalez  TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

2. Fun to Dream (9-5): Baffert’s other filly is already a Grade 1 winner and should get a nice trip racing just off her stablemate. If the pace is hot enough, she could get a dream trip and a free pass to the Breeders’ Cup.

JOCKEY: Ramon Vazquez TRAINER: Bob Baffert

3. Adare Manor (4-5): Surely she’s the one to catch and beat in this field. A winner of her last three starts, she comes off a pair of front-running Grade 2 wins by a margin of a little more than nine lengths. If Elm Drive cannot keep her busy on the backstretch, it could be a short afternoon for the rest of the field.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez TRAINER: Bob Baffert

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4. Kirstenbosch (10-1): She tried to chase Adare Manor in the Santa Margarita and settled for a distant second. If she leaves that role to someone else in this field, she looks like a solid threat to have some late kick and make matters interesting at the end.

JOCKEY: Hector Berrios  TRAINER: John Sadler

5. Desert Dawn (5-1): She was third in the Santa Margarita, 2 1/2 lengths behind Kirstenbosch. She’s usually in the picture with five seconds or thirds in her last seven starts – none of them wins. She likes Del Mar but this seems an unlikely spot to snap her losing streak that dates back to April 2022.

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

THE PICK: Fun to Dream

LONGSHOT: Kirstenbosch

TRIFECTA: 2-3-4