Grade 1 winner Iscreamuscream retired

Iscreamuscream, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in August 2024, has been retired and was sent to Kentucky to be bred earlier this week.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said an effort was made to race Iscreamuscream as a 5-year-old this year for the first time since the fall of 2024, but that a decision was made to end her racing career.

“She’s off to Kentucky to be a broodmare,” D’Amato said. “She didn’t quite make it back.

“It was a bunch of little things. Timing-wise, it was prudent not to miss the breeding season.”

By Twirling Candy, Iscreamuscream won 4 of 5 starts and earned $381,600. She raced for the partnership of Agave Racing, Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley Jr., Marsha Naify, and John and Stacey Snyder.

Iscreamuscream won her first four starts in 2023 and 2024, including the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar in July 2024. A month later, she won the Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf by 1 1/2 lengths, her final victory.

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In what turned out to be her final start, Iscreamuscream finished fourth of seven as the 3-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes against older fillies and mares at Santa Anita in October 2024.

Iscreamuscream had seven workouts last May and June, and four workouts from late October to early December before the recent decision was made to end her racing career.

Thought Process, a 4-year-old filly trained by D’Amato, is in training for a comeback early this year.

A three-time stakes winner, Thought Process resumed workouts in late December. Thought Process has not raced since she finished third as the 11-10 favorite in the Del Mar Oaks last August.

“She’s coming along really nicely,” D’Amato said. “Weather has hindered the timing of her breezes. I’m happy with how she is doing.”

Thought Process has won 5 of 8 starts and earned $380,200 for the family of the late Brereton Jones, Little Red Feather Racing, and Madaket Stables. Last July, Thought Process won the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap.

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