Gold Phoenix Secures Historic Fourth Del Mar Handicap Victory
DEL MAR, CA - August 19, 2023 – Gold Phoenix, displaying remarkable tenacity, surged to victory in the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) on Saturday, marking his fourth win in the prestigious race and an unprecedented tenth Del Mar Handicap title for trainer phil D’Amato. The 6-year-old gelding battled to the wire, finishing the 1 3/8-mile turf course in 2:16.09 – a second faster than his winning time in the 2022 edition.
The win solidifies Gold Phoenix’s status as a seasoned champion and sets the stage for a potential return to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, where he has competed in three previous editions. This victory is notably significant for Little red Feather Racing, Agave Racing Stable, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify, the ownership group behind the Irish-bred gelding, and further cements D’Amato’s dominance in the Del Mar Handicap.
“I thought at the sixteenth pole he wasn’t going to get there,” said little Red Feather Racing’s founder Billy Koch on the partnership’s X page.”He’s got so much guts.”
Ridden by jockey Flavien Prat, Gold Phoenix ($6.20) bested a competitive field on the firm turf. The gelding, by Belardo, continues a successful season for his sire, who was also represented by ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) winner Special Wan on the East Coast Saturday.
Bred in Ireland by Mighty Universe, Gold phoenix began his North American campaign in April 2022 and has since accumulated seven graded stakes wins, including a Grade 1 victory. He joined D’Amato’s barn at the start of his 4-year-old campaign and has become a cornerstone of the stable’s success. The team now looks ahead to the World Championships, hoping for a breakthrough performance at the Breeders’ Cup.