Undefeated Medoro Takes on 11 in San Clemente

Though the past two editions of the San Clemente Stakes (G2T) for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar have gone to foreign-bred runners, Kentucky-bred Medoro  may change that mini-streak.

Medoro, who debuted last December, has a perfect record of 4-for-4. Three of those wins have been close—her Dec. 1 maiden victory, the Dec. 29 Blue Norther Stakes, and the April 20 Providencia Stakes (G3T) were won by a head, a neck, and a nose, respectively. But she galloped by 2 1/4 lengths in the March 10 China Doll Stakes at a mile, the same distance as the San Clemente. Antonio Fresu has ridden Medoro in each of her races and is back aboard for trainer Peter Eurton from post 10 in the 12-horse field.

Eurton has also entered Flattery , to be ridden by Reylu Gutierrez from post 11. Though Flattery is coming off two unplaced efforts, one of those was in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) and she won last year's Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes.

Formidable D'Amato Trio

Trainer Phil D'Amato is always dangerous, especially in turf stakes. He captured the 2022 San Clemente with Irish-bred Bellabel  and has entered three this year.

Zona Verde  made four starts in Ireland before breaking her maiden for D'Amato in her first United States outing at the end of last summer's Del Mar meeting. In six subsequent races, she has won the 2023 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3T), making her 2-for-2 at Del Mar, and placed in two 2024 stakes at Santa Anita Park, though she lost twice to Medoro. Juan Hernandez is set to ride Zona Verde from post 9.

Loterie  ran third in her only Irish start and in four U.S. starts has not finished worse than second, including a second to Flattery in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf. Loterie won a maiden race at Santa Anita May 26 and will be ridden in the San Clemente by Kazushi Kimura from the rail.

D'Amato also has Kentucky-bred Iscreamuscream , who drew post 6 and will have Hector Berrios aboard. Iscreamuscream is undefeated in two starts at Santa Anita, one last October and one in June, and is making her stakes debut.

Other Opposition

Trainer Leonard Powell won last year's San Clemente with the talented Anisette . This year Powell will saddle Sakura Blossom , winner of the March 14 Arizona Oaks at Turf Paradise. In two starts at Santa Anita since the Arizona Oaks, Sakura Blossom ran third in allowance optional claimer company and second in the June 1 Honeymoon Stakes (G3T). Armando Ayuso, who rode her in the Arizona Oaks, will return in the saddle from post 3.

Trainer Jeff Mullins is represented by Invincible Molly  and has named Edwin Maldonado to ride from post 5. Invincible Molly won two of four races in her native Great Britain last year, and she won in her third U.S. start, taking a six-furlong allowance optional claimer on the turf at Santa Anita May 11.

Don't count out Richard Mandella, trainer of Rascality  (Kyle Frey, post 4) and Alluring  (Umberto Rispoli, post 12). Rascality ran second in the May 5 Senorita Stakes (G3T), and Alluring ran second in the April 7 Angels Flight Stakes.