Istanford, Sea Queen highlight Del Mar Oaks

Istanford has produced convincing wire-to-wire graded stakes wins in two of her last three starts (Four Footed Fotos) San Clemente winner Istanford and Belmont Oaks runner-up Sea Queen are top draws in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Del Mar Oaks. A total of 10 three-year-old fillies will square off in the 1 1/8-mile test over the Jimmy Durante turf course at Del Mar. A wire to wire winner over males in the May 24 Arlington Classic three starts back, Istanford shipped to Del Mar for trainer Michael Stidham and dominated the July 19 San Clemente on the front end, scoring by an easy 2 1/2 lengths. The daughter of Istan was overlooked at 10-1 last time, but she figures to be a much shorter price Saturday despite losing the services of Rafael Bejarano, who opted to take the mount on Sea Queen. Martin Garcia takes over aboard the speedy Istanford. Sea Queen made her stakes debut a winning one in the May 25 Wonder Again at Belmont Park and threatened to steal the July 5 Belmont Oaks on the front end before succumbing in the stretch to Minorette, who had finished second in the Wonder Again. The Christophe Clement-trained Sea Queen easily held second and will make her first start in California Saturday. The Lemon Drop Kid filly will break from the far outside post.

Odisseia, one of two international raiders in the line-up, merits respect in
her first start for trainer Phip D’Amato. A smart handicap winner in Ireland two
starts back, the dark bay daughter of Clodovil exits an unplaced finish versus a
deep field of rivals at Royal Ascot and brings top BRIS Class numbers into the
race. Joe Talamo picks up the mount.

Mark Casse will send out a pair of contenders in My Conquestadory and Tepin.
A Grade 1 winner at two and a close fourth following a wide trip in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, My Conquestadory opened 2014 with a nose
second in the May 18 Selene at Woodbine and recorded a rallying third in the San
Clemente. The Artie Schiller filly is eligible to keep showing more in her third
start off the layoff and will keep Victor Espinoza up. Tepin finished second in
the San Clemente at 18-1 odds and the Grade 3 juvenile winner adds Tyler Baze,
who replaces an injured Stewart Elliott.

Diversy Harbor will look to rebound after finishing fourth as the favorite in
the San Clemente. Runner-up in the American Oaks two starts back, the Tom
Proctor trainee retains the services of Hall of Famer Mike Smith. Proctor will
also send out Famous Alice, who exits a runner-up in the June 28 Senorita at
Santa Anita. Drayden Van Dyke rides.

Rounding out the field are French stakes winner Maibaby, who will make her
first start for trainer Neil Drysdale; Arlington Oaks runner-up Stellaris; and
maiden winner Personal Diary.

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