Del Mar 2024: Iscreamuscream stays perfect in San Clemente

Emerging 3-year-old filly Iscreamuscream improved to 3-for-3 for trainer Phil D'Amato with a sharp front-running win in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Stakes on the opening day card at Del Mar. 

Making her stakes debut, and first start around two turns, favorite Iscreamuscream broke alertly under Hector Berrios and seized the lead into the first turn. The pair soon found pressure from long shot Omaha Girl (43-1) while proceeding to set fractions of 22.76, 47.49 and 1:12.38 for six furlongs in the one mile turf event. At the top of the stretch, Omaha Girl began to weaken under Geovanni Franco. Iscreamuscream continued on and gamely withheld a late charge from stablemate Zona Verde and Juan Hernandez to prevail by three-quarters of a length. 

Previously unbeaten Grade 3 winner Medoro, the 2-1 second choice for trainer Peter Eurton, finished a troubled third under Antonio Fresu. Sakura Blossom (17-1) completed the superfecta.

Iscreamuscream won in a final time of 1:35.87 The Twirling Candy filly paid $4.40, $3.00 and $2.40. Zona Verde returned $6.00 and $3.80. Medoro paid $2.60. 

Iscreamuscream won her debut last October at Santa Anita going six furlongs on turf and then went to the sidelines. She returned June 13 going the same trip at Santa Anita and won stylishly by 3 1/2 lengths when coming from off the pace. 

Iscreamuscream was purchased for $145,000 by co-owner Little Red Feather Racing at last year's OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training. She is campaigned by Little Red Feather, John Hundley Jr., Marsha Naify, John Snyder and Stacey Snyder.