(Edited from track report)Nine 3-year-old fillies whose connections have the Del Mar Oaks (gr. I) in their sights are entered Saturday in the 34th edition of the $150,000, San Clemente Handicap (gr. II) at one mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course at Del Mar.
The Oaks will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf on Aug. 24.
Top wieght at 119 pounds apiece are Harris Farm's Super High, trained by Carla Gaines, and Arnold Zetcher's Alozaina, trained by Ron McAnally.
Super High is one of three fillies in Saturday's field who have won their last two races, her most recent victory coming in the Flawlessly Handicap at Hollywood Park.
The other consecutive winners are Little Treasure, owned by the Sidney L. Port Trust and San Gabriel Investments and making her U.S. debut for trainer Laura de Seroux, and Bare Necessities, owned by Iron County Farms and trained by Wallace Dollase. She has a maiden and an allowance score to show for her two most recent races, both at Hollywood Park.
Alozaina, who is winless this year, has been in much tougher company than any of her rivals. In her most recent start – only her second in this country – the daughter of Perugino finished a strong third to Dublino and Megahertz in the $500,000 American Oaks July 6 at Hollywood Park. Alozaina has one second and three thirds this year in five starts.
Trainer Robert Frankel, who ranks as king of the Del Mar turf, will send out a pair for the San Clemente. Drippingindiamonds, owned by 3 + U Stable and Greg James, will be making only her second start for Frankel, having finished seventh in Belmont Park's Grade I Prioress Stakes (gr. I) July 6. Flaxman Holdings' Carinae finished second in her last two outings for Frankel – in the Manhattan Beach and the Flawlessly, both at Hollywood Park.
$150,000 San Clemente Handicap (gr. II)PP Horse, Weight (Jockey)
1. Carinae, 114 (Victor Espinoza)
2. Pina Colada (GB), 114 (Mike Smith)
3. Super High, 119 (Garrett Gomez)
4. Little Treasure (Fr), 117 (Kent Desormeaux)
5. Alozaina (Ire), 119 (Goncalino Almeida)
6. Daisyago, 111 (Eddie Delahoussaye)
7. Arabic Song (Ire), 118 (Corey Nakatani)
8. Bare Necessities, 114 (Tyler Baze)
9. Drippingindiamonds, 115 (Patrick Valenzuela).
