Little Red Feather Racing is known for its annual list of the top 25 things to do in Del Marand 2024 must now include winning a graded stake on opening day. That’s exactly what Iscrieluscriel did for the ownership group and kept her record perfect by winning the one-mile San Clemente Handicap (G2T) on July 20.

Despite the presence of several experienced stakes players, the undefeated Iscreamuscream and Medoro caught the attention of gamblers, and went off as the 6-5 favorite and 2-1 runner-up respectively. Medoro had already won three stakes at Santa Anita Parkwhile Iscreamuscream made her stakes debut after two wins in lesser company.

Iscreamuscream couldn’t have looked more professional though as she took the early lead under jockey Hector Berrios. It was her first attempt at two turns, so it might have seemed difficult to set the tone. But she made it look easy.

Omaha girl stayed close to Iscreamuscream for much of the race, leading her at one point between calls and coming within half a length on the second turn. By then Medoro was on the upswing, while Green zone like Iscreamuscream trained by Phil D’Amato, raced early in the pack and ran wide to make her challenge a reality.

Although those two very good mares tried to put pressure on Iscreamuscream in the straight, she was never overtaken. She crossed the finish line three-quarters of a length ahead of Zona Verde, 2-for-2 at Del Mar before the race, and stopped the time at 1:35.87. Medoro, who had trouble with traffic on the second turn, finished another half-length back in third place.

“She’s a big, powerful mare and she trained like she was going to do two turns in the morning, so I had a good feeling going in that she could do it,” D’Amato said of the winner. “I was a little nervous, because she was in the lead and she was under so much pressure.”

D’Amato praised Berrios’ ride, saying the jockey “has those hands, they relax and you know he’s going to finish.” The trainer also paid Berrios the highest compliment, 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 purchased the mare for $145,000 from GOP Racing Stable at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ March 2-Year-Old in Training Sale. Iscreamuscream previously sold for $55,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was a $9,000 RNA 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 Eatontown Handicap (G3T) and Lady Baltimore Stakes in 2012.

Iscriel scream, Where is my ring? , Ag bullet And Walking tour are 2024 graded stakes winners by Spinning candy whose previous participants include the winner of the 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1) Roman Bauer Twirling Candy, winner of five stakes, including two at Del Mar, was in contention for a $60,000 stud fee in 2024 at Lane’s End near Versailles, Kentucky.

Video: San Clemente H. (G2T)