San Clemente H. (G2) winner Iscreamuscream puts her perfect record on the line in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1). To stay undefeated, the 8-5 morning-line favorite must work out the right trip from the rail — and overcome several noteworthy opponents — in her first start beyond a mile.
Among the dangers are Medoro, who was unbeaten before a troubled third in the San Clemente; East Coast shippers Buchu and Whiskey Decision; and Iscreamuscream’s stablemates from the Phil D’Amato barn, Circle of Trust and Zona Verde.
Iscreamuscream started out by winning a pair of sprints impressively, and the Twirling Candy filly made it a hat trick on the step up to a mile in the San Clemente. She had a proper two-turn test that day while adopting a new frontrunning style. Harried through solid fractions early, Iscreamuscream stayed on determinedly to hold off the rallying Zona Verde and Medoro.
If jockey Hector Berrios’ hand is forced early on the inside in the Del Mar Oaks, Iscreamuscream might find it more difficult to win the pace battle and the 1 1/8-mile war. Reverting to stalking tactics would improve her chances.
Both place-getters from the San Clemente have a license to move forward in the rematch, especially third-placer Medoro.
The Peter Eurton pupil had won all four of her prior starts, three of them stakes, capped by the Providencia (G3). Returning from a three-month freshening in the San Clemente, Medoro put herself in poor position with a sluggish start, and traffic trouble compounded her task as the 124-pound highweight.
The Del Mar Oaks should set up more favorably for Medoro. Back at level weights and over a distance that figures to play to her strengths, the daughter of Honor Code can rebound with regular pilot Antonio Fresu.
San Clemente runner-up Zona Verde, who had not run since early April, could be sharper this time. The Irish import was 2-for-2 over this turf course, including her lone stakes score in the Dec. 2 Jimmy Durante (G3). Yet the daughter of Calyx could find the extra furlong stretching her stamina, unless leading rider Juan Hernandez can cajole it from her.
The D’Amato runner proven at the trip is Circle of Trust. Both of her wins have come going 1 1/8 miles, notably the June 1 Honeymoon (G3) in her latest at Santa Anita. Two starts back in the Providencia, Circle of Trust was checked early but recovered to finish a grinding third to Medoro.
Not to be overlooked is Honeymoon runner-up Sakura Blossom, who cut back in the San Clemente and reported home a sneaky fourth. Trained by Leonard Powell, a two-time Del Mar Oaks winner in the past six years, the Classic Empire filly adds blinkers here. The only other entrant to run in the Honeymoon and San Clemente, Sea Dancer, was unplaced in both. Her lone appeal is as a half sister to mile star Johannes.
Eastern invaders Whiskey Decision, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, and the 12-1 Buchu might not be as far apart as the odds suggest.
Buchu looms as an overlay, considering that the Phil Bauer runner is the only one with Grade 1 experience. A creditable sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), she was most recently sixth again in the Belmont Oaks (G1). But the Justify filly has shown a brilliant kick twice at Keeneland, in last fall’s Jessamine (G2), and in her seasonal reappearance in the Appalachian (G2). If she takes to Del Mar in a similar vein, Buchu has an upset chance.
Whiskey Decision is a short price for a filly yet to be tested in a graded stakes. But the well-bred daughter of Into Mischief warrants the class hike. Smashing a Churchill Downs allowance in her turf debut, the Arnaud Delacour pupil followed up with another daylight victory in the Christina S. at Delaware Park.
From the immediate family of $1.2 million juvenile Sandman, who stamped himself as one to watch at Saratoga, Whiskey Decision picks up hot-riding Umberto Rispoli. Her tactical speed makes her a logical pace player along with Iscreamuscream, offering the possibility of the favorites going after each other. Chances are that one defers to the other early, but the race dynamics promise to be intriguing.
