DEL MAR, Calif. - History surrounded Gold Phoenix’s win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on turf.
A 7-year-old gelding, Gold Phoenix won the $302,000 Del Mar Handicap for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year. The victory gave trainer Phil D’Amato his 71st career stakes win at Del Mar, moving him past the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel and into sixth on the track’s all-time list. D’Amato tied Frankel earlier on Saturday’s program when Motorious won the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap for the third consecutive year.
Gold Phoenix, who was ridden by Flavien Prat, closed from fifth on the backstretch and was challenged through the final furlong, eventually finishing a neck in front of a determined Stay Hot, a 6-1 chance.
“He was very brave,” Prat said. “He really laid it out for me.”
Stay Hot, fourth on the backstretch, moved into contention in the final strides on the outside of Gold Phoenix and nearly reached the front.
“He ran too good to lose,” jockey Mike Smith said. “I was proud of him.”
Prat said the late presence of Stay Hot helped Gold Phoenix.
“When that horse came up on his outside, I think it encouraged him,” he said.
Atitlan, winner of two graded stakes on turf at Santa Anita earlier this year, finished third, a head behind Stay Hot. Truly Quality finished fourth, followed by Mondego, Final Boss, City Exile, Balnikhov and Endlessly.
Final Boss set a slow early pace of 25.05 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and 50.80 for a half-mile before fading in the final furlong.
Gold Phoenix finished 1 3/8 miles in 2:16.09 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
Saturday’s race was the second time Prat has been aboard Gold Phoenix for a win in the Del Mar Handicap. They teamed to win the race in 2022. Juan Hernandez rode Gold Phoenix to a win in 2023; Kyle Frey was aboard for last year’s victory.
Gold Phoenix, an Irish-bred gelding by Belardo, has won 9 of 27 starts and earned $2,032,587. A seven-time stakes winner, Gold Phoenix races for the partnership of Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stable and Marsha Naify.
Saturday’s win ended a five-race losing streak for Gold Phoenix since the 2024 Del Mar Handicap.
With the win, Gold Phoenix earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Gold Phoenix was 10th in the 2022 BC Turf at Keeneland, and fourth the last two years at Santa Anita and Del Mar.
“He just gets better with age,” D’Amato said. “He knows his job.
“This is what you’re in the game for.”
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