Del Mar: Overflow field lines up for Saturday's San Clemente

First Friday’s Oceanside Stakes had a gateful of runners for its mile on the turf. Now Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente – run under similar conditions though limited to 3-year-old fillies – has done the same. Sixteen runners signed on for the 56th edition of the Saturday headliner, though only 14 will go postward due to safety concerns.

As is often the case with these full-field offerings, the race looms as a wide-open betting affair. A possible favorite may be Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Anisette, a relative newcomer to the California racing scene who was impressive in her local debut on May 29 when she came running late to capture an allowance race at Santa Anita.

The British-bred and raced daughter of the Irish stallion Awtaad works out of the barn of trainer Leonard Powell and will be handled Saturday by Umberto Rispoli.

Powell, a French transplant who is a conditioner on the rise, also has another Euro he’ll run in the test in Momamed Saeed Al Shahi’s Wed, a French-bred miss who’ll be making her U.S. debut and will have top rider Juan Hernandez along for the trip. The daughter of the Irish sire Profitable was a Group 2 stakes winner as a 2-year-old in her native land, but will be making her U.S. bow Saturday.

Besides the San Clemente, Del Mar also will feature another full field of turf milers in a $100,000 overnight stakes, the Osunitas. The possible favorite in the field of 16 there is Bakster Farm or Isbister’s Honey Pants, a 5-year-old gray mare out of the Phil D’Amato barn who’ll be handled by Umberto Rispoli.

The Osunitas goes as the seventh race on the 11-race card, while the San Clemente will be the ninth. First post for the afternoon will be 5 p.m. EDT.

2023 San Clemente Stakes G2