DEL MAR — Two invaders from the East Coast will challenge the top four finishers in last month’s Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes on Saturday afternoon in the $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks — a 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies.
The Phil D’Amato-trained duo of Iscreamuscream and Zona Verde, who finished 1-2, respectively, in the San Clemente head the field of eight. But shippers Whiskey Decision and Buchu, a third D’Amato entry (Circle of Trust) and rebounding Medoro form a deep field.
Medoro (Antonio Fresu) ran third in the one-mile San Clemente after going undefeated in her first four starts.
Hector Berrios will again be up on Iscreamuscream after directing her to a three-quarters of a length win over Zona Verde (Juan Hernandez) in the San Clemente.
Iscreamuscream, a daughter of Twirling Candy is undefeated in three career starts and is the morning-line 8-to-5 favorite. The second-favorite is Whiskey Decision at 5-2. The daughter of Into Mischief (Umberto Rispoli) has won three straight, most recently the $150,000 Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park last month.
“She’s a filly on the improve,” D’Amato said of Iscreamuscream. “I don’t think the added distance will be an issue with her. And Berrios seems to get along with her very well.”
Zona Verde won the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar last fall. Circle of Trust won the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita on June 1.
“Zona Verde likes this course and the way it is playing should fit her tactical style,” said D’Amato. “Our intent with Circle of Trust (Reylu Gutierrez) was always this race … the San Clemente was too short for her.”
Sunset rally
Sunset Glory and jockey Umberto Rispoli stalked 3-to-5 favorite Linda’s Gift for 1 ¼ miles Friday before taking the lead deep in the stretch to win the marathon $100,000 CTT &TOC Stakes.
Linda’s Gift had won four of her last five distance races under Tiago Pereira, broke into the lead out of the gate and led by as many as five lengths down the backstretch of the 1 3/8-mile turf challenge for older fillies and mares when Sunset Glory started closing.
Sunset Glory ($5.60) won by a half length in what was essentially a two-horse race throughout. Musical Rhapsody finished third, six lengths behind Linda’s Gift.
“My thought was to stay behind Linda’s gift all the way, without letting Linda’s gift get too far ahead of me,” said Rispoli. “When we turned for home, I was just behind the leader and I think she took her out pretty well.
“This filly is improving race by race. She doesn’t have a lot of experience, but she learns something every race. “
“I was a little concerned,” said Michael McCarthy, the trainer of Sunset Glory. “Linda’s Gift is so good. she’s been dominant when she gets the kind of leads like that, so I was a little concerned. But both Sunset Glory’s victories have been coming late running underneath the wire. I had a sneaky suspicion that she’d be able to go the distance.”
Bonus Vron
Southern California’s most popular horse, The Chosen Vron, is scheduled to make an added appearance at Del Mar on Saturday (Aug. 24) in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes – possibly facing Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador in the seven-furlong race.
For the second straight year, The Chosen Vron has clinched a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint by winning the Grade 1 Bing Crosby last month.
Last year, The Chosen Vron didn’t race between the Crosby and the Breeders’ Cup, where he finished fifth. Trainer J. Eric Kruljac believes the extended training schedule hurt The Chosen Vron.
“I felt like I gave him too much time between the Crosby and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint,” said Kruljac. “When you’re given a model of perfection it’s pretty easy … it’s not rocket science. He’s doing great. So far, he’s hitting on all cylinders. I couldn’t be any more pleased with his training.”
The 6-year-old gelded son of Vronsky went three furlongs in 36.00 seconds last Saturday.
The Chosen Vron has won 19 of 24 career starts while running out of the money only twice. He is the reigning Cal-bred Horse of the Year for 2023 and is currently on a six-race winning streak – with 14 wins in his last 15 starts with the only setback being the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Spring. The Chosen Vron has more than $1.6 million in career earnings.
Notable
Trainer David Hofmans, who passed away last month at the age of 81, was honored by Del Mar before Friday’s feature. Hofmans trained horses for 49 years with more than 1,000 wins. He was also vice president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers.
• Jockey Kyle Frey won two races Friday – Nothin Is Forever $12.80) in the first and Control Function ($10.40) in the fifth – to give him 10 wins in the summer meeting.
_1729a08b06.jpg)