Among the eight starters in Saturday’s Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association are a couple of Eastern-based fillies who figured to be running at Saratoga. So why are they entered in the Hirsch at Del Mar? Yeah, there’s a $400,000 purse. But beyond that, Del Mar will be the host site for the Breeders’ Cup in November, and with the Hirsch being a “Win and You’re In” stakes that offers a free spot in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Saturday’s race takes on enough appeal to trigger cross-country flights.

1. Flying Connection (20-1 morning-line odds): Returns to trainer Todd Fincher’s barn after an unsuccessful trip East where she finished fifth in the Bed o’ Roses Stakes at Belmont at the Big A. Throw that race out and she has not been worse than third in six straight starts. Back home and breaking from the rail, she certainly seems capable of figuring in the exotics in this field.

JOCKEY: Joe Talamo; TRAINER: Todd Fincher

2. Adare Manor (3-5): Definitely the one to beat as she chases a second straight Hirsch victory. She’s in great form right now, winning her last two starts by a combined margin of nearly 10 lengths, and could lead throughout in a field short on speedsters.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

3. Scylla (6-1): Gets an acid test in her Grade 1 debut. Has taken some nice steps forward for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott with three straight wins at Churchill Downs, two of them in graded stakes. Figures to be a major player.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Bill Mott

4. Coffee in Bed (15-1): Was second to Adare Manor last time out, losing by 4 ¼ lengths. Looks competitive in this field but will need to take a big step forward to turn the tables on Adare Manor.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Richard Mandella

5. Desert Dawn (10-1): Broke from post 5 in last year’s Hirsch and finished second by a length to Adare Manor. In six starts since then, her only win came in January in the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes. Can figure in the exotics but will need a career-best try to land in the winner’s circle.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

6. Sugar Fish (12-1): A 3-year-old facing older horses, she turned in a huge win over sophomore fillies when she took the Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita Park by nearly 10 lengths. An encore of that effort will make her a major threat, but the jump in class and the likelihood of a bounce diminish her appeal.

JOCKEY: Tyler Baze; TRAINER: Jeff Mullins

7. Olivia Twist (30-1): Comes off a distant fourth in a sprint stakes and placed in only one of five graded stakes starts – and that was in a Grade 3 test more than a year ago. Seems overmatched.

JOCKEY: Reylu Gutierrez; TRAINER: Todd Fincher

8. Pretty Mischievous (8-1): The champion 3-year-old filly of 2023 has been facing the East’s best older females and finished third in both starts this year. Should be sitting on a big effort in her third start of the year and shapes up as a main threat in this field.

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

THE PICK: Adare Manor

LIVE LONGSHOT: Coffee in Bed

SUPERFECTA: 2-8-3-4