Gold Phoenix Wins Again at Del Mar! D’Amato Dominates Undercard!

On a vibrant Saturday, Gold Phoenix, hailing from Ireland, executed a stunning move along the rail in the last stretch of the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Handicap, securing the title for the third consecutive year with jockey Kyle Frey.

Trailing initially due to a sluggish pace, Gold Phoenix unleashed a magnificent burst of speed in the stretch, finishing the 1 3/8 miles on the firm Del Mar turf in 2:17.05, winning by a neck. The race progressed with splits of 25.77, 51.13, 1:16.44, 1:41.44, and 2:05.46.

Click here for Del Mar entries and results.

“Near the final turn today on the inside, I was really hoping for an opening,” Frey commented. “I was prepared to force one if necessary. Fortunately, that wasn’t needed. Riding him is always a thrill.”

“Absolutely,” said Phil D’Amato, the trainer, when queried about any nervous moments. “It was uncertain if we’d find an opening and then maintain our drive. Kyle just kept pushing. He kept focused, and the big horse pushed ahead at the right moment. He truly has a heart of gold. When he finds clear space, he makes magic happen.”

In a close contest, Dicey Mo Chara finished second under Héctor Barrios, just a head in front of Balnikhov in a competitive field of six senior horses.

Balladeer and There Goes Harvard were withdrawn from the initial lineup.

The Del Mar Handicap served as a gateway to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, set on the same course on November 2, with Gold Phoenix earning a spot in that prestigious event.

Now six years old, this gelding, owned by Little Red Feather Racing and Sterling Stables, secured his eighth victory in 21 starts. His winnings from the race, amounting to $180,000, brought his total earnings to $1,522,757. As the 2-1 favorite, he returned $6.80 on a win bet.

D’Amato Completes Turf Triumphs

In a surprising turn at odds of 5-1, Conclude, guided by jockey Héctor Berrios, clinched the $300,000 Del Mar Mile (G2).

“The race unfolded perfectly,” Berrios shared. “I aimed for an early lead comfortably. When I gained the lead, I pressed him, and he responded well. Taking the lead too late can tighten the race towards the end, but today was our day.”

Conclude’s victory over Almendares provided D’Amato a sweep in the three stakes races conducted on the turf that Saturday, including the earlier mentioned wins with Gold Phoenix in the Del Mar Handicap and Motorious in the Green Flash Handicap (G3).

“I left the decision to go early to Hector,” D’Amato stated about the strategy. “The horse likes being upfront. After a poor start last time, we worked on gate schooling, and today he broke excellently. Hector managed him superbly to secure the win.”

Conclude, a 4-year-old son of Collected, owned by Madaket Stables and Little Red Feather Racing, completed the mile in 1:34.05. The opening fractions were 23.45, 47.14, and 1:10.72.

It was his fifth win in nine races, earning $180,000 from this victory, boosting his total earnings to $546,100. Last year, he won the Del Mar Derby (G2).

Motorious Secures Second Consecutive Green Flash Title

England-bred Motorious, with Antonio Fresu aboard, surged from behind in the final moments of the $150,000 Green Flash Handicap (G3) to claim victory for the second consecutive year in the older turf sprint category.

Initially lagging in the early part of the five-furlong race, Motorious made a remarkable recovery in the last sixteenth, winning by three-quarters of a length against the longshot Johnny Podres, with No Nay Hudson finishing third among ten competitors. Noble Reflection and Connie Swingle were non-starters.

Motorious, a 6-year-old gelding trained by D’Amato, completed the race in a swift 56.14 seconds. This victory was his seventh in 19 starts, and the $90,000 prize increased his total earnings to $517,604.

“This horse faced some challenges earlier this year, but he returned to a turf he favors and found the right conditions today to showcase his capabilities,” D’Amato reflected. “With these race fractions, you never quite know what outcome you’ll get.”

The Green Flash also served as a qualifying event for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on November 2, again on the same course.

Supporters of Motorious were rewarded with a $6.60 payout. The horse is owned by Anthony Fanticola from Newport Coast, Calif.

Odds-on Favorite Hope Road Dominates in Torrey Pines

Hope Road, the 1-2 favorite with jockey Juan Hernández in the irons, effortlessly took the lead on the far turn and cruised to a commanding five-length victory on Saturday at Del Mar in the $150,000 Torrey Pines (G3) for 3-year-old fillies.

“I maintained close proximity to the leader,” Hernández explained. “Today, Hope Road really impressed me. She’s naturally fast but settled nicely behind the pace. I was planning to make my move at the quarter pole, but when we were challenged around the half-mile mark, I had to go earlier. She responded superbly. All credit to her.”

Hope Road, a daughter of Quality Road owned by Barbara Ranck-Perry’s Cicero Farms and trained by Bob Baffert, achieved her third consecutive win. She completed the mile on the main track in 1:36.15, earning a first prize of $90,000, which increased her total earnings to $198,020. She paid out $3.00 for a win.

“There was plenty of speed in this race,” Baffert commented. “You’re never sure until they actually perform, but at the three-eighths pole, I was confident she’d take it. She settled nicely. Juan handles these horses with such confidence, I just let him do his thing.”

Nothing Like You, another Baffert trainee, finished a distant second in a field of six fillies, with Grand Slam Smile taking third. Simply Enchanted and Omaha Girl were withdrawn from the race.