Gold Phoenix storms to the front in the San Luis Rey, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Press
ARCADIA, CA —After a sluggish start to his 8-year-old campaign last month, venerable multi-millionaire gelding Gold Phoenix returned to his winning ways Saturday with a three-quarter length victory in the Grade III, $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes going 1 ½ miles on turf at Santa Anita.
Sent off the 3-1 second choice in a field of eight, Gold Phoenix settled near the rear of the field under Hector Berrios while saving ground as Flashiest (12-1), ridden by Armando Ayuso ushered the field through moderate opening fractions of 24.84, 49.56 and 1:14.61. On the final turn, Gold Phoenix made the winning move. Berrios deftly moved his mount to the outside for clear racing room and Gold Phoenix was full of run.
Gold Phoenix closed-in on pacesetter Flashiest and Mondego (7-2), who was tracking in second, passed those rivals at the top of the stretch and continued to fight off a hard-trying Flashiest for the victory. Flashiest finished a half-length clear of Mondego in third with Truly Quality, the 8-5 favorite, another 3 ¼ lengths back in fourth.
Berrios was riding Gold Phoenix for the first time since 2023 when they won the GII Eddie Read at Del Mar.
“I knew there wasn’t much speed in the race, so I tried to stay close,” Berrios said. “My horse was very comfortable. I waited and waited and on the final turn, I asked him and he responded very well. I moved him to the outside and it was bye-bye.”
Gold Phoenix is trained by Phil D’Amato for owners Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify. He won in a time of 2:26.79 while upping his record to 31: 11-3-5 with more than $2.36 million in earnings.
“I thought Hector rode a beautiful race,” D’Amato said. “He made the move at the right time, not to get him stopped and he kind of just kept carrying his momentum. Just beautiful.”
In last month’s GIII San Marcos, which followed a three-plus month layoff, Gold Phoenix was never a factor when racing wide and finishing seventh.
“Maybe he was a little rusty off the bench last time and he didn’t get things his own way,” D’Amato said.
Gold Phoenix, an Irish-bred by Belardo, has now won at least one graded stakes for five consecutive years.
When Gold Phoenix was back in the winner’s circle, track announcer Frank Mirahmadi noted to the on-track crowd his exceptional career-long achievements. Among those standing and clapping in appreciation was Leonard Powell, trainer of runner-up Flashiest.
“He’s eight and he keeps going,” said Billy Koch of Little Red Feather. “It is just one of those things that you can’t put words to it. He just gives it his all every time.”
Gold Phoenix paid $8.40, $4.20 and $3.20. Flashiest returned $9.80 and $5.40. Mondego, ridden by Emisael Jarmillo for trainer Michael McCarthy, paid $4.60.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT.
GRADE III, SAN LUIS REY STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
HECTOR I. BERRIOS, GOLD PHOENIX, WINNER: “I knew there wasn’t much speed in the race, so I tried to stay close. My horse was very comfortable. I waited and waited and on the final turn, I asked him and he responded very well. I moved him to the outside and it was bye-bye.”
TRAINER QUOTES
PHIL D’AMATO, GOLD PHOENIX, WINNER: “I thought Hector rode a beautiful race. He made the move at the right time, not to get him stopped and he kind of just kept carrying his momentum. Just beautiful. Maybe he was a little rusty off the bench last time and he didn’t get things his own way, but a beautiful trip and ride today.”
OWNER QUOTES
BILLY KOCH, LITTLE RED FEATHER RACING, GOLD PHOENIX, WINNER: “It’s just been a good day. It is great for the partners to have a horse like this. He’s eight and he keeps going. It is just one of those things that you can’t put a word to it. He just gives it his all every time. His last race was so disappointing because he was training so well. Looking back now, maybe it was just the trip, going wide, wide, wide all the way. But you know, Hector Berrios, kudos to him, and obviously Phil and his team did a great job bringing him back. We are going to keep on going.”
NOTES: The winning owner is Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing and Marsha Naify.
