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.

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 31 pounds to the winner in a time of 1:37.20 for the mile. 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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

Records Speed record 1 mile: 1:33.54 – Storm Mesa (2008) 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), Iscreamuscream (2024)

Winners

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref Anisette (GB) San Clemente Handicap2026Somerset WestArmando AyusoJohn W. SadlerKeith Abrahams1 mile1:34.76$200,000II2025Thought Process Hector BerriosPhilip D'AmatoEstate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing & Madaket Stables 1 mile1:36.24$202,000II2024Iscreamuscream Hector BerriosPhilip D'AmatoLittle Red Feather Racing, John Hundley Jr, Marsha Naify, John & Stacey Snyder 1 mile1:35.87$202,500IISan Clemente Stakes2023Anisette (GB)Umberto RispoliLeonard PowellEclipse Thoroughbred Partners1 mile1:34.84$204,500II2022Bellabel (IRE)Umberto RispoliPhilip D'AmatoBenowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano1 mile1:35.32$203,500II2021MadoneJuan HernandezSimon CallaghanKaleem Shah1 mile1:35.28$202,500II2020Laura's LightAbel CedilloPeter L. MillerGary Barber1 mile1:34.16$152,500II2019Mucho UnusualJoel RosarioTim Yakteen George Krikorian1 mile1:34.66$201,755II2018War HeroineTyler BazePeter L. Miller Gary Barber1 mile1:34.90$202,760IISan Clemente Handicap 2017Madam Dancealot (IRE)Jamie TheriotRichard Baltas Slam Dunk Racing1 mile1:34.75$201,035II2016MokatKent J. DesormeauxRichard Baltas JK Racing Stable1 mile1:35.23$201,725II2015Prize Exhibit (GB)Santiago GonzálezJames M. Cassidy DP Racing1 mile1:36.05$200,250II2014IstanfordRafael BejaranoMichael StidhamDawn & Ike Thrash and Janet & Sam Alley 1 mile1:33.83$201,750II2013Wishing GateGary L. StevensThomas F. Proctor Glen Hill Farm1 mile1:33.58$151,000II2012Eden's MoonRafael BejaranoBob Baffert Kaleem Shah 1 mile1:34.38$150,000II2011Up In Time (GB)Rafael BejaranoSimon Callaghan Anthony Ramsden1 mile1:34.66$150,000II2010Evening JewelVictor EspinozaJames M. CassidyTom & Marilyn Braly 1 mile1:35.36$150,000II2009Starlarks (IRE)Alex O. SolisPatrick Gallagher Dolantori Racing1 mile1:33.82$150,000II2008Storm MesaEddie Martin Jr.W. Bret Calhoun Richard L. Davis1 mile1:33.54$150,000II2007Passified (GB)Mike E. SmithJames M. Cassidy Forging Oaks Farm1 mile1:34.15$150,000II2006Attima (GB)Victor EspinozaJulio C. Canani Anthony Fanticola & Joseph Scardino1 mile1:34.65$150,000II2005Shining EnergyRené R. DouglasJulio C. Canani J. Terrence Lanni & Bernard C. Schiappa1 mile1:34.25$150,000II2004Sweet WinVictor EspinozaJeff Mullins Gayle Fogelson1 mile1:34.11$150,000II2003§ Katdogawn (GB)Julie KroneJames M. Cassidy John R. Cuchna, Jim Ford Inc. & Deron Pearson 1 mile1:33.62$150,000II2002Little Treasure (FR)Kent J. DesormeauxLaura de Seroux Port Trust, Liberty Road Stable & San Gabriel Investments1 mile1:33.97$150,000II2001Eddie DelahoussayeJenine Sahadi Team Valor Stables & Gary Barber 1 mile1:34.88$150,000II2000Uncharted Haven (GB)Alex O. SolisRobert J. Frankel 3 Plus U Stable1 mile1:35.13$150,000II1999Sweet Ludy (IRE)Corey NakataniJenine Sahadi Team Valor Stables, Heiligbrodt Racing Stables, King, et al.1 mile1:35.02$150,000II1998Sicy d'Alsace (FR)Corey NakataniNick Canani Bloodstock Management Services & Dehaven1 mile1:34.97$112,500II1997Famous DiggerBrice BlancBarry Abrams Let It Ride Stable, et al.1 mile1:36.00$111,725II1996True FlareCorey NakataniRobert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms1 mile1:35.59$107,200II1995Jewel PrincessChris McCarronWallace Dollase Richard J. Stephen1 mile1:36.12$104,650III1994Work the CrowdChris McCarronGreg Gilchrist Harris Farms & Norma, Foster & Maddy1 mile1:36.07$82,300III1993Hollywood WildcatNeil D. Drysdale Irving Cowan & Marjorie Cowan1 mile1:34.89$83,700 1992Golden TreatKent J. DesormeauxRichard E. Mandella Golden Eagle Farm1 mile1:35.20$83,100 1991FlawlesslyChris McCarron Harbor View Farm1 mile1:34.88$109,600 1990Nijinsky's LoverGary L. StevensD. Wayne Lukas Wildenstein Stable1 mile1:36.20$84,050 Lonely GirlPat ValenzuelaWillard L. Proctor Glen Hill Farm 1 mile1:36.40$84,050 1989§ Darby's DaughterGary L. StevensRobert J. Frankel Edmund Gann1 mile1:36.60$110,000 1988Do SoAlex O. SolisRon McAnally Jack Kent Cooke 1 mile1:35.80$84,400 San Clemente Stakes 1987Davie's LambFernando ToroJulio C. Canani Deals On Stable miles1:42.80$42,375 Future BrightPat ValenzuelaMelvin F. Stute D. S. Zuckerman miles1:44.60$42,175 1986Our Sweet ShamSantiago B. SotoCraig Anthony Lewis Brown & Retzlaff miles1:43.20$55,950 1985Mint LeafChris McCarronThomas L. Walker Calumet Farm miles1:42.60$56,150 1984Fashionably LateChris McCarronRobert J. Frankel Mrs. B. R. Firestone (Lessee) miles1:43.20$55,300 1983Eastern BettorRafael Q. MezaMike R. Mitchell Hanson Stock Farm miles1:44.00$42,750 Lituya BayLaffit Pincay Jr.Laz Barrera Aaron U. Jones miles1:43.80$42,250 1982Northern StyleMarco CastanedaLouis R. Carno Mr. & Mrs. T. M. Cavanagh miles1:43.40$54,700 1981French CharmerDarrel G. McHargueJohn W. Russell W. F. Roden miles1:44.20$44,850 1980Plenty O'TooleTerry LiphamJohn W. Fulton Coppertree miles1:44.20$45,050 1979Ancient ArtFernando ToroCharles E. WhittinghamHoward B. Keck miles1:44.20$39,300 1978Miss MagneticMarco CastanedaRon McAnally Elmendorf miles1:44.20$22,550 Joe's BeeLaffit Pincay Jr.Laz Barrera Duo Stable miles1:44.40$22,150 1977Teisen LapDarrel G. McHargueA. Thomas Doyle Fitzsimons Jr. & Maytag miles1:44.80$21,850 1976Go MarchDonald PierceA. Thomas Doyle Toshiaki Kanasashi miles1:42.80$22,150 1975Miss Francesca Darrel G. McHargueA. Thomas Doyle Canadiana Farms miles1:43.20$17,225 † Princess PapuleeFernando ToroA. Thomas Doyle Getty, Guinn, Evey & Riordan miles1:43.80$17,025 1974Bold BalletFernando ToroThomas A. PrattLeone J. Peters miles1:44.00$22,350 1973Button TopSteve J. ValdezRobert G. CraftCraft, Ritt, Whiting, Giovinazzo & O’Hara miles1:43.80$21,750 1972Bert's Tryst Rudy RosalesFrank E. HolmanFrank E. Holman miles1:43.00$16,350 1971Gowran Green Rudy RosalesGordon C. CampbellB. J. Ridder miles1:43.80$16,100 1970LovedJerry LambertJohnny LongdenFrank McMahon miles1:43.80$16,525 1951–1969Race not heldSan Clemente Claiming Handicap1950§ Vino Fino Billy PearsonRichard H. McDanielMr. & Mrs. Elmer C. Smith miles1:42.80$5,775 San Clemente Handicap1949§ Good ExcuseFrank Chojnacki Paul L. LycanMrs. A. W. Ryan1 mile1:37.20$5,000

Legend:

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

References