The 58th running of the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar features nine top 3-year-old fillies competing over a mile on turf, serving as a key prep race for the prestigious Del Mar Oaks (G1) scheduled for August 16. The race highlights the local sophomore filly division, which often requires sorting out, with the favorite being Thought Process, a Collected filly trained by Phil D’Amato. Thought Process, carrying top weight of 123 pounds and ridden by Hector Berrios, has won four of six starts and earned $224,200, entering the race as the 8-5 morning line favorite.
Other notable contenders include Will Then, a double stakes winner trained by Jonathan Thomas and ridden by Mike Smith, listed at 4-1, and Casalu, also a double stakes winner under Bob Baffert with Kazushi Kimura aboard, at 6-1. The field also features competitive horses like Miso Phansy, As Catch Can, Amorita, Jungle Peace, Firenze Flavor, and Silent Law, all aiming to make their mark in this important stepping stone toward the Del Mar Oaks.
