In a stunning display of talent and composure, the undefeated 3-year-old filly Iscreamuscream triumphed at the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Saturday, solidifying her status as a leading contender ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf this November. The event, run over the beautiful Del Mar turf course, showcased her potential in the upcoming championship races.
Under the careful guidance of trainer Phil D’Amato and with jockey Hector Berrios in the saddle, Iscreamuscream exhibited maturity that belied her young age. Stepping out fresh from the rail for the 1 1/8-mile contest, she quickly seized the lead, closely followed by the favoured Whiskey Decision, who was sent off at 6-5 odds.
Maintaining her position early on with fractions of 24.20 and 48.10 seconds, Iscreamuscream faced an unexpected challenge when jockey Umberto Rispoli on Whiskey Decision made a decisive move to take over the lead midway through the backstretch. Instead of rushing to reclaim the lead, Berrios demonstrated tactical patience, allowing Whiskey Decision to set the pace while guiding his filly comfortably in second place.
Reflecting on his strategy, Berrios explained, “When I felt Rispoli behind me I thought, ‘OK, let him go to the lead while I pick up second.’ She went very comfortably in second and when I asked her to move, she responded.”
As they approached the far turn, Berrios took command, moving Iscreamuscream past Whiskey Decision and accelerating toward the finish. The filly maintained a strong lead, finishing the race in a creditable time of 1:48.06, with Medoro finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind her in second and Zona Verde, another of D’Amato's trainees, 1 1/4 lengths further back in third. The heavily favoured Whiskey Decision, however, struggled in the stretch, eventually fading to sixth place.
D’Amato, who previously celebrated victory in this race with Going Global in 2021, praised Berrios’s execution of the race plan. “Hector didn’t push the button early,” he noted. “He stayed patient and circled around that other filly and re-engaged. At the quarter pole, when he got head and head with the favourite, he still looked like he had a lot of horse left. I was just hoping she’d draw off, and she did.”
With this win, Iscreamuscream remains unbeaten in four starts, amassing earnings of $369,600 for her owners: Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley Jr., Marsha Naify, and John and Stacey Snider.
Although Iscreamuscream is nominated for the Breeders’ Cup, D’Amato hasn’t yet confirmed her participation in the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf scheduled for November 2 at Del Mar. As anticipation builds, the racing community watches closely for updates on this remarkable filly's future endeavours.