The effort that goes into winning one race–at any level–is tremendous. Winning the same graded race four years in a row? That’s the stuff of Hollywood. And yet veteran Gold Phoenix (Ire) (g, 8, Belardo {Ire}–Magnifica, by Mizzen Mast) showed once again why he is the GII Del Mar Handicap’s leading man Saturday, winning for the fourth consecutive year and earning a ‘Win and You’re In’ berth to the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf over this course Nov. 1. GSW Stay Hot (Summer Front) finished second, while MGSW Atitlan (The Factor) was third.

In last year’s Del Mar Handicap, Gold Phoenix–who campaigns for the partnership of Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables LLC, and Marsha Naify–stalked and pounced, but this year, he trundled along midpack while Final Boss (American Pharoah), who was coming off a mile win at Del Mar earlier this month, set all the pace, slowing it down to pedestrian terms. Final Boss had daylight on the field through a :25.05 first quarter and a :50.89 half. He was still in front at the 1:40.49 mile, as Gold Phoenix continued unhurried midpack. The tempo quickened on the final turn as Gold Phoenix swept around the field, ranging up on the outside as Final Boss was swamped by a slew of runners. Gold Phoenix tackled them all, outfinishing Stay Hot, Atitlan, and MGSW Truly Quality (Quality Road) in a blanket finish at the wire. The margins were a neck, a head, and a nose.

“Today he broke pretty sharply, so he was a little closer to the pace than he usually is,” said winning rider Flavien Prat. “But I was able to have him relax and save ground. When I asked him to run, he gave me his usual strong finish in the stretch. He was between horses nearing the wire and I think that helped him keep going strong to the wire. I was pretty sure we won the race.”



Winning trainer Phil D’Amato wasn’t as sure. “I thought we had it and then I thought we didn’t have it and then at the end he surged again. But that’s what makes this horse so great. He’s got a big heart and intestinal fortitude and Flavien got every inch out of him. He is the epitome of fine wine. He gets better with age. It’s just fun. That’s what we’re in the business for, to have moments like this.”

Last seen finishing third in an optional allowance going a mile at Del Mar Aug. 9, Gold Phoenix has not won since last year’s Del Mar Handicap. His best finishes since included a third in the GIII San Luis Rey Stakes in March in his seasonal debut, which followed a fourth behind Rebel’s Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Breeders’ Cup Turf to close out his season. He may not win often, but Gold Phoenix really likes the Del Mar Handicap. The 2022 edition marked his first graded win and he hasn’t lost in each try since. During his career, which began with a single start and win in Ireland in 2021, the remarkable Del Mar afficionado has also added wins in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes, the GII Charles Whittingham Stakes, and the GII Eddie Read Stakes to his CV.

Pedigree Notes:

Belardo (Ire), who stands in England at Bearstone Stud, had a heck of a day on this side of the pond Saturday. In addition to Gold Phoenix’s win, his daughter Special Wan (Ire) captured the GIII Resolute Racing Ladies Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs. With his sixth crop of 2-year-olds racing now, the son of Lope de Vega (Ire) has 10 graded/group winners and 16 black-type winners.

Gold Phoenix’s winning dam, Magnifica, is a full-sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Sea Defence and to U.S. MGSW & GISP Jibboom. Her most recent foals include a 2-year-old filly by Lucky Vega (Ire) and an Apr. 24-foaled filly by Phoenix of Spain (Ire). Gold Phoenix is one of the 43 stakes winners worldwide produced by a daughter of Juddmonte’s pensioned Mizzen Mast.

Saturday, Del Mar
DEL MAR H. PRESENTED BY THE JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION-GII, $302,000, Del Mar, 8-30, 3yo/up, 1 3/8mT, 2:16.09, fm.
1–GOLD PHOENIX (IRE), 123, g, 7, by Belardo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Magnifica, by Mizzen Mast
                2nd Dam: Palisade, by Gone West
                3rd Dam: Peplum, by Nijinsky II
(€24,000 RNA Ylg ’19 GOFSPT; $125,000 6yo ’24 KEECHA). O-Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, SterlingStables LLC and Marsha Naify; B-Mighty Universe Ltd (IRE); T-Philip D’Amato; J-Flavien Prat. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 27-9-3-5, $2,032,587. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Stay Hot, 121, r, 4, Summer Front–Etsu, by Smart Strike. ($130,000 Ylg ’22 FTKJUL). O-Burns Racing LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, Estate of Brereton C. Jones and Hudock, Dan William; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $60,000.
3–Atitlan, 123, c, 4, The Factor–Armanda (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger). O-John M. B. O’Connor; B-Anastasie Astrid Christiansen-Croy (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. $36,000.
Margins: NK, HD, NO. Odds: 2.10, 6.60, 4.30.
Also Ran: Truly Quality, Mondego (GB), Final Boss, City Exile (GB), Balnikhov (Ire), Endlessly. Scratched: Adios Cole, Nitti (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV