Little Red Feather Racing is famous for its annual list of 25 top things to do in Del Mar, and 2024 must now include winning a graded stakes on opening day. That's just what Iscreamuscream did for the ownership group, keeping her record perfect by capturing the one-mile San Clemente Handicap (G2T) July 20.
Despite the presence of several experienced stakes performers, undefeated Iscreamuscream and Medoro caught bettors' eyes, going off as the 6-5 favorite and 2-1 second choice, respectively. Medoro had already won three stakes at Santa Anita Park, while Iscreamuscream was making her stakes debut after two wins in lesser company.
Iscreamuscream couldn't have looked more professional, however, as she took the early lead under jockey Hector Berrios. It was her first effort around two turns, and so perhaps pacesetting duty appeared difficult. But she made it look easy.
Omaha Girl stayed close to Iscreamuscream through much of the race, heading her at one point between calls and coming within a half-length in the second turn. By then, Medoro was revving up, while Zona Verde, like Iscreamuscream trained by Phil D'Amato, raced in midpack early and was swinging wide to make her challenge.
Though those two very good fillies tried to put pressure on Iscreamuscream in the stretch, she never let them catch her. She hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Zona Verde, 2-for-2 at Del Mar going into the race, and stopped the timer in 1:35.87. Medoro, who had traffic trouble in the second turn, finished another half-length back in third.
"She's a big, scopey filly and she trained liked she'd go two turns in the morning, so I had a good feeling going into this that she could get it done," D'Amato said of the winner. "I was a little nervous, her being on the lead and pressed like that."
D'Amato praised Berrios' ride, saying that the jockey "has got those hands, where he gets them to relax and you know he's going to finish." The trainer also paid Berrios the supreme compliment of comparing him to Hall of Fame rider Eddie Delahoussaye.
Little Red Feather owns Iscreamuscream in partnership with John Hundley Jr., Marsha Naify, and John and Stacey Snyder. Little Red Feather bought the filly for $145,000 from GOP Racing Stable at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' March 2-Year-Old in Training Sale. Iscreamuscream had previously sold for $55,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was a $9,000 RNA as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Hunter Rankin and Walker Hancock bred Iscreamuscream in Kentucky from the Cozzene mare Silver Screamer, winner of the 2012 Eatontown Handicap (G3T) and Lady Baltimore Stakes.
Iscreamuscream, Where's My Ring, Ag Bullet, and Walkathon are 2024 graded stakes winners by Twirling Candy , whose earlier runners include 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Rombauer . Winner of five stakes, two of them at Del Mar, Twirling Candy stood for a 2024 stud fee of $60,000 at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky.
