Iscreamuscream could bring combination style to Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR, Calif. - In three starts, Iscreamuscream has closed from slightly off the pace to win two sprints, and disputed the pace to win her stakes debut in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Saturday.

For her next scheduled appearance, in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 17, trainer Phil D’Amato hopes to see the patient style of her sprint wins combined with the gritty manner of her stretch run in the San Clemente.

“I don’t think she needs the lead,” D’Amato said on Sunday. “She was in front and it happened this way. Going short, she sat behind horses and kicked past them.”

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Iscreamuscream won the $202,500 San Clemente Handicap by three-quarters of a length, holding off a late threat from stablemate Zona Verde.

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Iscreamuscream, purchased for $145,000 as a 2-year-old in-training in 2023, has earned $189,600 for the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley, Jr., Marsha Naify, and John and Stacey Snyder.

D’Amato, who won the 2021 Del Mar Oaks with Going Global, hopes to have a deep team of candidates this year for the $300,000 race. Circle of Trust, the winner of the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on June 1, is another of D’Amato’s intended runners.

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