Eight 3-year-old fillies with visions of the Del Mar Oaks dancing in their heads will be heading for the starting gate on Sunday for the 33rd running of the grade II, $150,000 San Clemente Handicap.The fillies will be going one mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in a race that will be a co-featured with the San Diego Handicap on the day's card. The San Clemente will be run as the day's fourth race.Heading the field will be four-time winners Gabriellina Giof and La Vida Loca, bred in England and Ireland, respectively. They will carry high weight of 116 pounds in the field.Gabriellina Giof came from Italy to the barn of Hall of Fame Ron McAnally earlier this year and turned in a victory in a minor stakes event at Hollywood Park in her debut for McAnally. She had three wins and two seconds in six outings as a 2-year-old in Italy.La Vida Loca, with three wins and a third in this country after racing for champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien as a 2-year-old, shipped in from the Kentucky barn of Patrick Byrne on Thursday and went to the track Friday morning under exercise rider and assistant trainer Kevin Willey. Willey said the filly traveled well on Thursday and traveled well over the track Friday. Trainer Byrne is expected to arrive in San Diego early this evening.Warren's Whistle, also a four-time winner and top earner in the field with $290,830 for trainer Mel Stute, figures to be one of the major antagonizers of the top two in the field.
Here's the way the field will line up from the rail, with weights and riders: Warren's Whistle, 115, Alex Solis; Gabriellina Giof, 116, Chris McCarron; Reine de Romance, 114, Eddie Delahoussaye; Bel Serenata, 112, Mike Smith; La Vida Loca, 116, Gary Stevens; Blushing Ballerina, 112, Louis Juaregui; Dynamous, 114, Victor Espinoza; Pretty 'N Smart, 112, Tyler Baze.
