Kentucky-bred Iscreamuscream remained undefeated with a facile victory in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1) on Saturday, Aug. 17.
Ridden by Hector Berrios, Iscreamuscream vied for the early lead from inside rivals leaving the chute in the 1 1/8-mile turf event. She cleared her foes around the clubhouse turn and then ceded the front to Whiskey Decision at the five-eighths pole. Iscreamuscream took command again outside the five-sixteenths pole, put away all challengers in the stretch, and rolled to a 1 ½-length score.
“I know she had the speed, but I wanted to stay behind,” said Berrios. “She was strong, she went very comfortably in second, and when I asked her to move, she responded. She is a very, very good filly.”
Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Agave Racing Stable, Marsha Naify, et al, Iscreamuscream is now perfect in four lifetime starts. The $180,000 winner’s share of the purse increased her bankroll to $369,600. Prior to the Del Mar Oaks, Iscreamuscream won the San Clemente Stakes (G2) over the Del Mar turf. She is by Twirling Candy out of the Cozzene mare Silver Screamer, and she was bred in Kentucky by Hunter Rankin and Walker Hancock. Iscreamuscream sold most recently for $330,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Midsummer Flash Sale.
“Hector didn’t push the button early,” noted winning trainer Phil D’Amato. “He stayed patient and circled around that other filly and re-engaged. I thought at the quarter pole when he got head-and-head with the favorite he still looked he had a lot of horse left. I was just hoping she’d draw off and she did.”