Twelve evenly-matched three-year-old fillies will tangle Saturday (July 19) in the 45th running of the Grade II $200,000 San Clemente Handicap at one mile on the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
A prelude to the division’s championship event of the summer, the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Saturday, August 16, the San Clemente shapes up as a wide-open betting affair.
Certain to attract support is Glen Hill Farm’s consistent Diversy Harbor, who will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith. Never worse than third in five starts, the daughter of Curlin comes into the San Clemente off a strong second to Room Service in the Grade I American Oaks at Santa Anita on May 31.
Wishing Gate, Diversy Harbor’s stablemate from the barn of trainer Tom Proctor, won the San Clemente a year ago.
Among those entered to oppose Diversy Harbor Saturday are trainer Michael Stidham’s Istanford, victress in the Arlington Classic in May; Irish-bred Sandiva, making her American debut; Sheza Smoke Show, winner of the Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita in late June, and trainer Mark Casse’s My Conquestadory, nosed out in the Selene at Woodbine recently. My Conquestadory won the Grade I Alcibiades Stakes as a two-year-old at Keeneland.
Others in the field are Tiz the Key, Tepin, Miss Machiavelli, Concave, winner of kthe 2013 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar; Sushi Empire, Morning Fix and Tiz Kissable.
The supporting feature on Saturday’s 11-race program is the $90,000 Osunitas Stakes for older fillies and mares at a mile and one-sixteenth on the grass.
Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.