Iscreamuscream notches third straight victory with San Clemente Handicap
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Iscreamuscream was the least experienced filly in a field of 10 in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar - and too game to catch in the final furlong.
Allowed to set a moderate pace of 47.49 seconds for the half-mile in the one-mile race, Iscreamuscream sustained her advantage through the stretch to hold off stablemate Zona Verde by three-quarters of a length.
Iscreamuscream remained unbeaten in three starts with the win in the $202,500 San Clemente, her stakes debut. The first two finishers are trained by Phil D’Amato.
Iscreamuscream had her first start at a mile in the San Clemente Handicap, run on turf for 3-year-old fillies.
“She’s trained like she she’d go two turns,” D’Amato said.
Ridden by Hector Berrios, Iscreamuscream was favored and paid $4.40. She was timed in 1:35.87 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84.
Berrios had Iscreamuscream a length in front through an opening quarter-mile in 22.76 seconds. She led by a head on the backstretch and on the turn over the longshot Omaha Girl before Zona Verde posed a threat in the stretch.
Zona Verde (9-1) finished a half-length in front of 2-1 Medoro, a three-time stakes winner beaten for the first time in her fifth start.
Berrios said Iscreamuscream was racing within herself and reacted favorably when tested by Zona Verde.
“She was very comfortable,” Berrios said. “When I got to her in the stretch, I knew she’d respond. She saw the other filly and took off.”
Medoro closed from eighth after a slow start to be nearest the front at the finish.
“She got away bad and gave up too much ground,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “She was a game third, considering. It was a good race to get into her.”
Sakura Blossom finished fourth, followed by Omaha Girl, Loterie, Invincible Molly, Sea Dancer, Rascality and Flattery. Alluring and Antifona were scratched earlier on Saturday.
The San Clemente was run under handicap conditions and was the leading race on Saturday’s opening day of the Del Mar summer meeting. Iscreamuscream carried 119 pounds, five less than topweight Medoro.
Icreamuscream, by Twirling Candy, won a maiden race at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita last October and her 3-year-old debut in an allowance race at six furlongs on turf on June 13.
Purchased for $145,000 as a 2-year-olds in-training, Iscreamunscream races for the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley, Jr., Marsha Naify, and John and Stacey Snyder.
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