Iscreamuscream Remains Perfect 4-for-4 in Del Mar Oaks
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Iscreamuscream wins the Del Mar Oaks at Del Mar
Iscreamuscream answered the cheers from her hundreds of owners in the Del Mar grandstand loud and clear when she streaked to her fourth straight score in the $301,500 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) Aug. 17.
As is par for the course for any horse jointly owned by Little Red Feather Racing, the winner's circle was soon spilling over with jubilant connections following Iscreamuscream's first grade 1 victory.
"This is what horse racing is all about," said a beaming Billy Koch, founder of California's largest horse racing partnership.
In addition to Little Red Feather, the 3-year-old Twirling Candy filly is owned by Agave Racing Stable, John Hundley Jr., Marsha Naify, and John and Stacey Snyder. Agave Racing Stable bought in with the original partners on Iscreamuscream when a 33% ownership share in her sold for $330,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midsummer Flash Sale from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment on Aug. 1.
Prior to the Flash Sale, she notched a 3-for-3 record beginning with a debut win as a 2-year-old, graduating last October over the Santa Anita Park turf.
Given a lengthy freshening following her debut, Iscreamuscream picked up right where she left off—in the winner's circle. Returning in a six-furlong allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita June 13, the Phil D'Amato trainee romped by 3 1/2 lengths before carrying her speed successfully over the mile trip in the San Clemente Handicap (G2T) on Del Mar opening weekend.
The top four finishers from the San Clemente were back for more in the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Oaks, the summer prize for 3-year-old turf fillies in Southern California. Although Iscreamuscream boasted an undefeated record heading into the Oaks, the bettors favored East Coast upstart Whiskey Decision , shipping in for trainer Arnaud Delacour.
Iscreamuscream, taking full advantage of her 1 post under jockey Hector Berrios, sprinted to the lead when the gates opened, looking quite capable of repeating her gate-to-wire performance in the San Clemente. However, after paving the way for the first quarter-mile, a rank Whiskey Decision dragged Umberto Rispoli to the front passing the half-mile pole. Iscreamuscream willingly conceded her advantage and the cat-and-mouse game was underway. Approaching the six-furlong marker, run in 1:11.56, Berrios and Iscreamuscream loomed to the outside of Whiskey Decision and swept on by as the field swung for home.
With a closing Medoro cut loose down the lane and out for vengeance after her San Clemente third, Iscreamuscream reached for the wire, holding sway by 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:48.06.
"I loved when Rispoli (on Whiskey Decision) made that early move. I said to my friend, 'Oh now she has a target,'" Koch said. "It was a great ride by Hector too, great job by Phil D'Amato and his staff. I couldn't be happier for everybody."
The winning connections of Iscreamuscream
Iscreamuscream paid $8.40 for a $2 win ticket. Medoro and Zona Verde , second in the San Clemente, completed the trifecta.
Bred in Kentucky by Hunter Rankin and Walker Hancock, Iscreamuscream is out of the grade 3-winning Cozzene mare Silver Screamer . She is the only black-type winner for her dam, who has produced four winners from six foals to race.
Iscreamuscream became the ninth grade 1 winner for Lane's End stallion Twirling Candy. The son of Candy Ride has become a prolific sire of turf runners over the years, siring top-level grass performers such as Concrete Rose , Beyond Brilliant , and Exaulted as well as millionaire Gear Jockey . Twirling Candy stood the 2024 breeding season for a fee of $60,000.