Gold Phoenix looks to take down a deep field in the San Luis Rey, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Press
ARCADIA, CA — Millionaire stablemates Gold Phoenix and Balnikhov, both trained by Phil D’Amato, and newly minted graded stakes winner Mondego are among a competitive group of older horses signed on for Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes going 1 ½ miles on turf Saturday at Santa Anita.
Gold Phoenix will be seeking a bounce-back effort after failing to fire in the 1 ¼-mile San Marcos on Feb. 14, which came after a three-plus month layoff. Sent off the even-money favorite for his 8-year-old debut, Gold Phoenix settled in mid-pack in the San Marcos and then never got untracked late, finishing seventh in a field of eight. Hector Berrios, who previously guided the gelding to victory in the 2023 edition of the GII Eddie Read stakes at Del Mar, jumps back aboard.
Gold Phoenix is 30: 10-3-5 with $2,303,087 in earnings. He is owned by Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify.
Balnikhov kicked off his 7-year-old campaign on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park in the GIII William L. McKnight, also at 1 ½ miles. Balnikhov raced near the rear of the field in the McKnight before rallying to be third. The gelding, who races for owner Old Bones Racing Stable, has a record of 38: 8-6-7 and $1,187,993 in earnings. Balnikhov will have Juan Hernandez aboard in the San Luis Rey.
Mondego, trained by Michael McCarthy, won the San Marco at 9-1 under Emisael Jaramillo for his first stakes win of any kind. A 6-year-old gelding by Lope de Vega, Mondego previously was third in the GIII San Gabriel at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Dec. 28 at Santa Anita. He is owned by Cheyenne Stables and has a record of 19: 4-1-3 with $407,047 in earnings. Jaramillo will again be aboard Mondego.
THE GRADE III SAN LUIS REY STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 9 of 9 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT
- Flashiest—Armando Ayuso—122
- Truly Quality—Antonio Fresu—124
- Balnikhov—Juan Hernandez—124
- Gold Phoenix—Hector Berrios—124
- Mondego—Emisael Jaramillo—124
- City Exile—Tiago Pereira—120
- Living Life—Tyler Baze—120
- Watsonville—Mike Smth—124
