2022 San Clemente Stakes Day

Umberto Rispoli celebrates aboard Bellabel after winning the 2022 San Clemente Stakes.

The feature race on the first Saturday of the Del Mar summer meet was the $200,000 San Clemente Stakes (G2) for three-year-old fillies going 1 mile on the Jimmy Durante turf course. Conditions were excellent at the seaside oval with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70's for the 14,092 fans in attendance. Bellabel was sent off as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite in the field of 12 off her win in the Blue Norther at Santa Anita after being imported from Ireland. In to challenge her included 31-10 second choice Lady T, second in the Summertime Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita, and 7-2 third choice Island of Love, winner of the Senorita (G3) before finishing second in the Honeymoon Stakes (G3).

Down the stretch in the San Clemente Stakes.

Jockey Victor Espinoza sent Lady T to the lead first time by through an opening quarter of 22.80 before 24-1 Lucky Girl took over on the clubhouse turn through a half in 46.80 and 3/4 in 1:11.09. Turning for home Lucky Girl continued to lead, coming out at the 1/8 pole through 7f in 1:23.42 before tiring. Bellabel, 6th early under Umberto Rispoli, came through on the inside to win by 2 lengths over late-running 37-1 Sixteen Arches in 1:35.32. It was a neck back to Island of Love third. Lucky Girl finished 5th but was disqualified to 9th for interference when she bore out at the 1/8 pole causing a chain reaction.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 6 Bellabel Rispoli 8.00 5.80 3.60 3 Sixteen Arches Cedillo 29.20 12.40 8 Island of Love Alvarado 3.60 Winning Time: 1:35.32 $1 Exacta 6-3 96.00 $2 Quinella 3-6 146.20 $0.50 Trifecta 6-3-8 224.30 $0.10 Superfecta 6-3-8-1 290.15 Results Chart

Left: Bellabel in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Phil D'Amato, who trains the first 3 finishers said, "We got a nice trip up the rail. She showed her class late. They were jostling all around there; luckily she got a smooth trip on the inside and kept going. I give him (Rispoli) a general idea about the race but at the end of day, Umberto's going to do what Umberto wants to do. It's been working out so we'll just roll with it. We'll run her next in the Del Mar Oaks."

Right: Bellabel in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said, "Winning races, claiming races, stakes races, it's all good. Winning for Phil (D'Amato) is good. He's been one of my main backers. Winning at Del Mar is good. This is such a happy place; the people love it here. I had a good run with her today. At the top of the stretch she changed leads on me and I had to get after her with the stick, but she got it right and ran good."

Left: Second place finisher Sixteen Arches in the paddock before the race. The Phil D'Amato trainee improved her record to 1 win, 1 second, and 0 thirds in 5 starts, earning $54,020 for owner Michael House.

Right: Third place finisher Island of Love in the post parade. The Phil D'Amato trainee improved her record to 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 7 starts, earning $153,755 for owner R Unicorn Stable.

Avenue de France wins the Osunitas Stakes

Jockey Joe Bravo sent Hamwood Flier to the lead first time by through fractions of 22.47, 45.59, and 1:09.48 while pressed by 46-1 Buyback and stalked by Amy C. Turning for home Hamwood Flier opened up a 3 1/2 length lead through 7f in 1:21.97 but 6-1 Avenue de France, 10th early under Juan Hernandez, came out for room and rallied past the tiring favorite to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:34.57. It was a nose back to 15-1 Rocking Redhead third.

Results Chart

Avenue de France in the winner's circle. The Leonard Powell trainee improved her record to 7 wins, 1 second, and 5 thirds in 20 starts, earning $325,066 for owners Benowitz Family Trust, Convergence Stables, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Mathilde Powell.

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