D'Amato sends European quartet in San Clemente Stakes
They come from everywhere for the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes, but mostly they come from Europe. And on Saturday at Del Mar, many come from the same stable.
Seven of the 13 entrants began careers in Europe, including four trained by Phil D’Amato, all Irish-breds. And while Bellabel is the most likely to give D’Amato his first San Clemente win, his three others in the turf mile for 3-year-old fillies have proper credentials – graded winner Island of Love, stakes-placed Helens Well, and blinkers-on longshot Sixteen Arches.
:: DRF's Del Mar headquarters – Stakes schedule, previews, recaps, past performances, and more
A deep field entered the San Clemente, which is historically influenced by Europeans – 11 of the last 21 winners began their careers overseas. In addition to the D’Amato four, other Irish-bred fillies in the San Clemente include allowance winner Countess Rosina, stakes winner Lucky Girl, and fresh-off-the-plane upset candidate Mise Le Meas.
English-bred comebacker Tezzaray and first-time turf Lady T add to the deep field. The $200,000 San Clemente, the 11th and final race Saturday, also includes outsiders Gem Mine, Miss Mattie B, Anthonys Cleopatra, and Gold Dragon Queen.
Bellabel was a modest filly in Ireland, but her splashy U.S. debut in January suggested she would be something more in California. At a mile on turf in the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita, she smoked her final quarter in 23.05 seconds and won clear. There was little point to a winter campaign. The top races for turf fillies were months away.
“We wanted to give her time to gear up for this series,” D’Amato said, referring to the San Clemente and Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 20. “After she won, we thought that was a good time to give her a break and have her ready for her [summer] campaign. She’s training very well.”
Umberto Rispoli picks up the mount from Flavien Prat.
Although one could argue Bellabel is best of the D’Amato foursome, Island of Love has improved under Juan Hernandez – a win and a second in Grade 3’s at Santa Anita. “She’s a European, I think she’ll appreciate the turf course at Del Mar,” D’Amato said.
Helens Well goes second off a layoff, with proven Del Mar form. She won a maiden race and finished second in a stakes last summer. As for Sixteen Arches, her two recent starts were better than looked. D’Amato said blinkers-on is “to put her in the race a little bit more.”
Lady T is the speed-figure play. Her recent second in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita earned an 89 Beyer, highest in the San Clemente field. However, it was on dirt. Lady T will try to join Storm Mesa (2008) and Eden’s Moon (2012) as San Clemente winners racing on turf for the first time. Summer is the right time for a switch.
“There are more opportunities on turf for a horse like Lady T, she’s coming into the race very well,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “Over the last three races, she’s really matured.”
Sired by Into Mischief and produced by a Malibu Moon mare, Lady T’s pedigree is fine for grass. Shirreffs is hopeful she can reproduce her dirt form. “Our grass [in California] is very short, and they clip right along,” he noted. “You would think most horses would be okay on the grass. It’s not deep, it’s not soft. It’s not a hindrance for a horse coming from the dirt to the turf.”
Comeback filly Tezzaray is 2 for 2 on the Del Mar turf. She won her U.S. debut in a maiden race last fall, followed by the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante. She is trained by Peter Miller, who has won the San Clemente twice in the past four years.
Tezzaray “had an issue after the Jimmy Durante, so we gave her plenty of time off and she’s coming back very well,” Miller said. “She’s as fit as I can get her on works. If I had to put a number, I’d say about 90 percent.”
A longshot lurks in the San Clemente. She is Ireland import Mise Le Meas, whose overseas form is stronger than other European entrants in the San Clemente. Mise Le Meas arrived at Santa Anita on July 16, and shipped to Del Mar the following day.
Trained overseas by Johnny Murtagh, Mise Le Meas runs for Paddy Gallagher, who said the filly shipped well. “I was pleasantly surprised; she seems to have taken to [Del Mar] very well,” he said.
The filly’s fourth-place finish two starts back in a Group 3 indicates she fits class-wise in the San Clemente.