Riboletta Victory Would Be Inda’s Way to Say Thanks

DEL MAR —  If Riboletta does the expected and wins her fourth stakes in a row here today, the victory will be extra special for trainer Eduardo Inda.

After sweeping the Hawthorne, Milady and Vanity Handicaps at Hollywood Park, Riboletta’s new target is the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap.

Formerly called the Chula Vista, the name of the Grade II race was changed this year to honor Hirsch, who died in March at 85.

Involved in horse racing for more than 50 years, he was a founding director of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Oak Tree Racing Association.

At the time of his death, he served on the Del Mar board as vice president and was president of the Oak Tree Racing Assn. As an owner, he raced such stars as Figonero, who won the 1969 Hollywood Gold Cup, then, later that year, set a world record for 1 1/8 miles (1:46 1/5) in winning the Del Mar Handicap; June Darling and 1970 Strub winner Snow Sporting.

Hirsch, who was the founder of Kal Kan Foods, Inc., was also instrumental in bringing Inda to the United States. An 18-year-old working as a groom in his native Chile, he met Hirsch in 1961 when the latter came to South America to purchase horses.

Hirsch bought La Sexta, a champion filly in Chile who didn’t pan out in this country due to injury, and Alga, who, as a broodmare, produced Most Host, best known for his upset win over 1-5 favorite Damascus in the 1968 Strub at Santa Anita. Hirsch invited their groom to come along.

“He told me that if I liked the United States, I could stay and if I didn’t like it, I could go back home,” Inda said Friday.

“It was my dream to come to the U.S. I was only 18 and he gave me the opportunity to come to the best country in the world.

“Mr. Hirsch was a very, very nice man and he was always good to me. I can’t thank him enough for what he did. Winning this race would mean a lot. It’s very important.”

A longtime assistant to Warren Stute, who trained Hirsch’s best horses, and Ron McAnally, Inda is now training for Aaron and Marie Jones, who severed their ties with Bob Baffert in January.

A 5-year-old bred in Brazil, Riboletta is the queen of the stable and is the 3-5 morning line favorite to keep her win streak alive.

Successful in 10 of 24 lifetime, Riboletta appears to be getting better with each outing. She romped home by 5 1/2 lengths in the Vanity under 123 pounds, so she will carry a career-high 125 in the Hirsch. She will be spotting from 6-16 pounds if all of her opponents participate.

While Inda isn’t thrilled with her weight assignment, he understands.

“The fact is, she’s won her last couple of races by too many lengths,” he said. “Excellent Meeting is a nice filly and we have to give her six pounds, but that’s OK.

“This mare is doing super. She’s very, very good and is doing just as well as she was at Hollywood Park. “

Provided she wins and comes out of the race in good order, Riboletta is bound for New York. Inda said the Ruffian Handicap on Sept. 16 at Belmont Park is next, but it’s extremely unlikely she would face Heritage Of Gold or Beautiful Pleasure.