Iscreamuscream faces older, goes longer in Rodeo Drive
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The steady progress the undefeated filly Iscreamuscream has shown through four starts, including a win in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in August, has led to a season-defining appearance in Saturday’s Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita.
The $200,000 Rodeo Drive will be Iscreamuscream’s first race against older fillies and mares and first at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
Iscreamuscream was considered for the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland later this month until trainer Phil D’Amato settled on the Rodeo Drive.
“She doesn’t have to ship,” D’Amato said. “She likes this turf course. There are a lot of positives.”
One positive could be a potential trip to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 2. Iscreamuscream is part of a field of seven in the Rodeo Drive. The winner receives a fees-paid berth in the BC Filly and Mare Turf.
Owned by the partnership of the Little Red Feather Racing syndicate, Agave Racing, Marsha Naify, John Hundley Jr., and John and Stacey Snyder, Iscreamuscream is the only 3-year-old in a field that includes six other stakes winners – Aspen Grove, Be Your Best, Beach Bomb, Hang the Moon, Lucky Girl, and Sunset Glory.
All have appealing credentials, particularly Sunset Glory and the D’Amato-trained Hang the Moon.
Sunset Glory won the CTT-TOC Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 16, her third consecutive win and the longest race of her career.
“After the last three starts, I feel like she belongs with these,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.
As for the BC Filly and Mare Turf, McCarthy needs Sunset Glory to prove she belongs in that kind of international field.
“It’s possible,” he said. “I’d rather get past Saturday first.”
Hang the Moon closed from last of seven to record a 20-1 upset in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 7, her first stakes win in her 11th start. She will race at 1 1/4 miles for the first time on Saturday.
“She just beat two Grade 1 winners last time at Del Mar,” D’Amato said. “For as good as she is at 1 1/8 miles, I think she’ll be better at 1 1/4 miles. Pace or no pace, she proves to have a nice kick.”
Beach Bomb, a Group 1 stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles in South Africa in January, will be making her second start in the United States. Trained by Graham Motion, Beach Bomb finished second in the Violet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Monmouth Park on Aug. 31.
“She probably needed the race, and it was shorter than she wants to go,” Motion said.
As a stalker, Beach Bomb is likely to be in pursuit of Iscreamuscream, who is quick enough to lead. Iscreamuscream’s recent works have left D’Amato confident.
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“She handled the mile and an eighth at Del Mar with her tactical speed and I don’t see the mile and quarter being an issue,” he said.
“She’s training very well. She gives me nice breezes every week. If you want to beat her, you’ll have to catch her.”
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