Gold Phoenix Leads D’Amato Del Mar Handicap Trio

To say trainer Phil D’Amato has a solid chance to win the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) would be an understatement. On Aug. 31, he will saddle three of the seven competitors—each among the top four morning-line choices—with all three being millionaires.

Winning the $300,000 Del Mar event is no new task to D’Amato. Having captured eight of the last 10 runnings, the Southern California-based trainer has held hostage the automatic entry to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) that the race provides through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

Gold Phoenix  is responsible for the last two of D’Amato’s victories in the 1 3/8-mile race, using his automatic berth to finish 10th and fourth in the last two editions of the Turf.

Should Gold Phoenix win the race again—with his third different rider in Kyle Frey—it would give the 6-year-old Belardo  gelding an opportunity to compete on the biggest stage over a track where he is well proven.

“Kind of typical for him at that distance,” D’Amato said of the Eddie Read. “He got trapped on the inside and was never able to stretch his legs, but I think going a mile and three-eighths, he’ll be a lot closer to the pace which is where he likes to be.”

Racing in the colors of Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify, Gold Phoenix stands as the 5-2 favorite.

Also not experiencing the clearest of sailings for D’Amato in the Eddie Read stretch was Balnikhov , who once finding running room inside the final sixteenth rallied for third.

Like Gold Phoenix, Balnikhov is owned by Little Red Feather, but in partnership with Madaket Stables and Old Bones Racing Stable. Kazushi Kimura will need to navigate a trip from the rail in his second ride aboard the 5-year-old Adaay  gelding.

The final of D’Amato’s trio is grade 1-winning Rockemperor . The 8-year-old has not visited the winner’s circle since the 2022 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course, but has continued to compete at a high level. In his last start, he finished second by a neck in the 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park June 16.

“They thought he’d like the firmer turf course in California, so they brought him over here,” D’Amato said. “He’s run two good races for me. Just an old veteran and real nice horse to train. Hopefully he can run his race, and if he does, he’s a fit in there.”

Should victory not be D’Amato’s, the morning-line odds suggest it will come from Master Piece . Fourth in the Eddie Read, his 3-1 odds make him co-second choice with Balnikhov for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.

Owner Donia Pancha and trainer Francisco Garcia enter the race’s “wild card” in El Encinal . Making his United States debut, the Argentinian was last seen taking the Carlos Pellegrini Internacional (G1T) by a head Dec. 16. That race was also a Challenge Series event and already earned the son of Il Campione  an entry to the Breeders’ Cup Turf.