Exotics Plays for the San Clemente Stakes

An especially well-matched group of 11 sophomore fillies will go postward in Saturday’s $200,000 San Clemente H. (G2) at Del Mar. The 1 1/8-mile tilt on the lawn attracted some of the top grass fillies in California, as well as some dangerous imports from the East, in what is a very intriguing affair to me. 

San Clemente Exotics

• $2 exacta box 1,3,8,10 ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 1 with 3,8,10 with all ($13.50)
• 10-cent superfecta 1,8 with 1,3,8,10 with 1,3,8,10 with all ($9.60)

The Brendan Walsh-trained #1 Raiding Party will make her stakes debut and gets the rail. By Sioux Nation, the chestnut is a head shy of being unbeaten from a trio of career runs in advance of her local debut, and she comes off a convincing allowance victory at Churchill Downs in her second start of 2026 most recently. The stout late runner retains the services of Ben Curtis, who comes in for the ride, too. 

#8 Inbox, one of three in the field for Phil D’Amato, missed by a nose in the Honeymoon S. in her latest venture and wouldn’t be a surprise in the competitive cast. The Ecot filly possesses a big turn of foot and landed in a field with multiple runners that like to be forwardly placed early, which will aid her late burst. Joel Rosario will be in the silks atop the import. 

Kelsey Danner’s #3 Ground Support was a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) on the oval in her juvenile finale and will improve in her second attempt of the season. The Grade-2 winning daughter of Army Mule has trained well this campaign and has the tactical speed to be in range throughout the heat with Adam Beschizza in for the mount. 

#10 Somerset West is appealing at a potential nice price for John Sadler in her route debut. The chestnut daughter of Kantharos rolled home to a facile maiden win going down the hill at Santa Anita last out, and I think that she will appreciate the added ground going forward. The homebred will be guided home by Armando Ayuso.