San Clemente Handicap

The San Clemente Handicap is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one mile on the turf course scheduled annually in late July or early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

San Clemente Handicap

Class	Grade II
Location	Del Mar Racetrack Del Mar, California, United States
Inaugurated	1949
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	Del Mar
Race information
Distance	1 mile
Surface	turf
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-old fillies
Weight	Assigned
Purse	US$200,000

History

The event was inaugurated on 17 August 1949 as the San Clemente Handicap as a fillies & mares, three-year-olds and older handicap and was won by the six year old mare Good Breeze who defeated the favourite Honeymoon who was giving 311⁄2 pounds to the winner in a time of 1:37.20 for the mile.^[1] The following year the event was named the San Clemente Claiming Handicap and was open to all horses three-year-olds and older with an increase in distance to 1+1⁄16 miles and the event was won by the four year old gelding Vino Fino who took the lead 70 years from the finishing line and won by a length and three quarters.^[2]

The event then was idle until 1970 when it was renewed as the San Clemente Stakes on the turf track for three year old fillies only.

The distance was decreased to one mile in 1988 and has been held the same to date.^[3]

In 1994 the event was classified as Grade III and was upgraded to Grade II in 1996.^[4]

The event has been split into divisions five times with last time occurring in 1990.^[5] The event was run with handicap conditions between 1988 and 2017.^[4] From 2018 to 2023 the condition of the event was a stakes with allowances. In 2024 the event reverted back to handicap conditions.^[4]

The event is considered a major preparatory race for the Grade I Del Mar Oaks which is run later in the Del Mar summer meeting.^[6]

Records

Speed record

• 1 mile: 1:33.54 – Storm Mesa (2008)
• 1+1⁄16 miles: – 1:42.60 Mint Leaf (1985)

Margins

• 6 lengths – Lituya Bay (1983)

Most wins by a jockey

• 5 – Chris McCarron (1984, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1995)

Most wins by a trainer

• 4 – A. Thomas Doyle (1975 both divisions, 1976, 1977)
• 4 – Robert J. Frankel (1984, 1989, 1996, 2000)
• 4 – James M. Cassidy (2003, 2007, 2010, 2015)

Most wins by an owner

• 2 – Kaleem Shah (2012, 2021)
• 2 – Glen Hill Farm (1990, 2013)
• 2 – Team Valor Stables (1999, 2001)
• 2 – Gary Barber (2018, 2020)
• 2 – Little Red Feather Racing (2024, 2025)

San Clemente Handicap – Del Mar Oaks double

• Go March (1976), French Charmer (1981), Fashionably Late (1984), Flawlessly (1991), Hollywood Wildcat (1993), Famous Digger (1997), Sicy d'Alsace (FR) (1998), Evening Jewel (2010), Anisette (GB) (2023)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref Anisette (GB)
San Clemente Handicap
2025	Thought Process	Hector Berrios	Philip D'Amato	Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing & Madaket Stables	1 mile	1:36.24	$202,000	II	[7]
2024	Iscreamuscream	Hector Berrios	Philip D'Amato	Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley Jr, Marsha Naify, John & Stacey Snyder	1 mile	1:35.87	$202,500	II	[8]
San Clemente Stakes
2023	Anisette (GB)	Umberto Rispoli	Leonard Powell	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners	1 mile	1:34.84	$204,500	II	[9]
2022	Bellabel (IRE)	Umberto Rispoli	Philip D'Amato	Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano	1 mile	1:35.32	$203,500	II	[10]
2021	Madone	Juan Hernandez	Simon Callaghan	Kaleem Shah	1 mile	1:35.28	$202,500	II	[11]
2020	Laura's Light	Abel Cedillo	Peter L. Miller	Gary Barber	1 mile	1:34.16	$152,500	II	[12]
2019	Mucho Unusual	Joel Rosario	Tim Yakteen	George Krikorian	1 mile	1:34.66	$201,755	II	[13]
2018	War Heroine	Tyler Baze	Peter L. Miller	Gary Barber	1 mile	1:34.90	$202,760	II	[14]
San Clemente Handicap
2017	Madam Dancealot (IRE)	Jamie Theriot	Richard Baltas	Slam Dunk Racing	1 mile	1:34.75	$201,035	II	[15]
2016	Mokat	Kent J. Desormeaux	Richard Baltas	JK Racing Stable	1 mile	1:35.23	$201,725	II	[16]
2015	Prize Exhibit (GB)	Santiago González	James M. Cassidy	DP Racing	1 mile	1:36.05	$200,250	II	[17]
2014	Istanford	Rafael Bejarano	Michael Stidham	Dawn & Ike Thrash and Janet & Sam Alley	1 mile	1:33.83	$201,750	II	[18]
2013	Wishing Gate	Gary L. Stevens	Thomas F. Proctor	Glen Hill Farm	1 mile	1:33.58	$151,000	II	[19]
2012	Eden's Moon	Rafael Bejarano	Bob Baffert	Kaleem Shah	1 mile	1:34.38	$150,000	II	[20]
2011	Up In Time (GB)	Rafael Bejarano	Simon Callaghan	Anthony Ramsden	1 mile	1:34.66	$150,000	II	[21]
2010	Evening Jewel	Victor Espinoza	James M. Cassidy	Tom & Marilyn Braly	1 mile	1:35.36	$150,000	II	[22]
2009	Starlarks (IRE)	Alex O. Solis	Patrick Gallagher	Dolantori Racing	1 mile	1:33.82	$150,000	II	[23]
2008	Storm Mesa	Eddie Martin Jr.	W. Bret Calhoun	Richard L. Davis	1 mile	1:33.54	$150,000	II	[24]
2007	Passified (GB)	Mike E. Smith	James M. Cassidy	Forging Oaks Farm	1 mile	1:34.15	$150,000	II	[25]
2006	Attima (GB)	Victor Espinoza	Julio C. Canani	Anthony Fanticola & Joseph Scardino	1 mile	1:34.65	$150,000	II	[26]
2005	Shining Energy	René R. Douglas	Julio C. Canani	J. Terrence Lanni & Bernard C. Schiappa	1 mile	1:34.25	$150,000	II	[27]
2004	Sweet Win	Victor Espinoza	Jeff Mullins	Gayle Fogelson	1 mile	1:34.11	$150,000	II	[28]
2003	§ Katdogawn (GB)	Julie Krone	James M. Cassidy	John R. Cuchna, Jim Ford Inc. & Deron Pearson	1 mile	1:33.62	$150,000	II	[29]
2002	Little Treasure (FR)	Kent J. Desormeaux	Laura de Seroux	Port Trust, Liberty Road Stable & San Gabriel Investments	1 mile	1:33.97	$150,000	II	[30]
2001	Reine de Romance (IRE)	Eddie Delahoussaye	Jenine Sahadi	Team Valor Stables & Gary Barber	1 mile	1:34.88	$150,000	II	[31]
2000	Uncharted Haven (GB)	Alex O. Solis	Robert J. Frankel	3 Plus U Stable	1 mile	1:35.13	$150,000	II	[32]
1999	Sweet Ludy (IRE)	Corey Nakatani	Jenine Sahadi	Team Valor Stables, Heiligbrodt Racing Stables, King, et al.	1 mile	1:35.02	$150,000	II	[33]
1998	Sicy d'Alsace (FR)	Corey Nakatani	Nick Canani	Bloodstock Management Services & Dehaven	1 mile	1:34.97	$112,500	II	[34]
1997	Famous Digger	Brice Blanc	Barry Abrams	Let It Ride Stable, et al.	1 mile	1:36.00	$111,725	II	[35]
1996	True Flare	Corey Nakatani	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	1 mile	1:35.59	$107,200	II	[36]
1995	Jewel Princess	Chris McCarron	Wallace Dollase	Richard J. Stephen	1 mile	1:36.12	$104,650	III	[37]
1994	Work the Crowd	Chris McCarron	Greg Gilchrist	Harris Farms & Norma, Foster & Maddy	1 mile	1:36.07	$82,300	III	[38]
1993	Hollywood Wildcat	Eddie Delahoussaye	Neil D. Drysdale	Irving Cowan & Marjorie Cowan	1 mile	1:34.89	$83,700		[39]
1992	Golden Treat	Kent J. Desormeaux	Richard E. Mandella	Golden Eagle Farm	1 mile	1:35.20	$83,100		[40]
1991	Flawlessly	Chris McCarron	Charles E. Whittingham	Harbor View Farm	1 mile	1:34.88	$109,600		[41]
1990	Nijinsky's Lover	Gary L. Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Wildenstein Stable	1 mile	1:36.20	$84,050		Division 1[42]
	Lonely Girl	Pat Valenzuela	Willard L. Proctor	Glen Hill Farm	1 mile	1:36.40	$84,050		Division 2[42]
1989	§ Darby's Daughter	Gary L. Stevens	Robert J. Frankel	Edmund Gann	1 mile	1:36.60	$110,000		[43]
1988	Do So	Alex O. Solis	Ron McAnally	Jack Kent Cooke	1 mile	1:35.80	$84,400		[44]
San Clemente Stakes
1987	Davie's Lamb	Fernando Toro	Julio C. Canani	Deals On Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.80	$42,375		Division 1[45]
	Future Bright	Pat Valenzuela	Melvin F. Stute	D. S. Zuckerman	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.60	$42,175		Division 2[45]
1986	Our Sweet Sham	Santiago B. Soto	Craig Anthony Lewis	Brown & Retzlaff	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.20	$55,950		[46]
1985	Mint Leaf	Chris McCarron	Thomas L. Walker	Calumet Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.60	$56,150		[47]
1984	Fashionably Late	Chris McCarron	Robert J. Frankel	Mrs. B. R. Firestone (Lessee)	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.20	$55,300		[48]
1983	Eastern Bettor	Rafael Q. Meza	Mike R. Mitchell	Hanson Stock Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.00	$42,750		Division 1[49]
	Lituya Bay	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Laz Barrera	Aaron U. Jones	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.80	$42,250		Division 2[49]
1982	Northern Style	Marco Castaneda	Louis R. Carno	Mr. & Mrs. T. M. Cavanagh	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.40	$54,700		[50]
1981	French Charmer	Darrel G. McHargue	John W. Russell	W. F. Roden	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.20	$44,850		[51]
1980	Plenty O'Toole	Terry Lipham	John W. Fulton	Coppertree	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.20	$45,050		[52]
1979	Ancient Art	Fernando Toro	Charles E. Whittingham	Howard B. Keck	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.20	$39,300		[53]
1978	Miss Magnetic	Marco Castaneda	Ron McAnally	Elmendorf	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.20	$22,550		Division 1[54]
	Joe's Bee	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Laz Barrera	Duo Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.40	$22,150		Division 2[54]
1977	Teisen Lap	Darrel G. McHargue	A. Thomas Doyle	Fitzsimons Jr. & Maytag	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.80	$21,850		[55]
1976	Go March	Donald R. Pierce	A. Thomas Doyle	Toshiaki Kanasashi	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.80	$22,150		[56]
1975	Miss Francesca	Darrel G. McHargue	A. Thomas Doyle	Canadiana Farms	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.20	$17,225		Division 1[57]
	† Princess Papulee	Fernando Toro	A. Thomas Doyle	Getty, Guinn, Evey & Riordan	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.80	$17,025		Division 2[57]
1974	Bold Ballet	Fernando Toro	Thomas A. Pratt	Leone J. Peters	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.00	$22,350		[58]
1973	Button Top	Steve J. Valdez	Robert G. Craft	Craft, Ritt, Whiting, Giovinazzo & O’Hara	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.80	$21,750		[59]
1972	Bert's Tryst	Rudy Rosales	Frank E. Holman	Frank E. Holman	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.00	$16,350		[60]
1971	Gowran Green	Rudy Rosales	Gordon C. Campbell	B. J. Ridder	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.80	$16,100		[61]
1970	Loved	Jerry Lambert	Johnny Longden	Frank McMahon	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.80	$16,525		[62]
1951–1969		Race not held
San Clemente Claiming Handicap
1950	§ Vino Fino	Billy Pearson	Richard H. McDaniel	Mr. & Mrs. Elmer C. Smith	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.80	$5,775		‡ 3YO & older[2]
San Clemente Handicap
1949	§ Good Excuse	Frank Chojnacki	Paul L. Lycan	Mrs. A. W. Ryan	1 mile	1:37.20	$5,000		¶ 3YO f&m[1]

Legend:
  Turf   Dirt
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† In the 1975 second division event Mia Amore finished first but was disqualified to second. Princess Papulee was declared the winner.
‡ The 1950 winner Vino Fino was a four-year-old gelding.
¶ The 1949 winner Good Excuse was a six-year-old mare.

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links

• 2020 Del Mar Media Guide