Del Mar observe administration could have to rethink the title of the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) after Gold Phoenix captured the 1 3/8-mile turf occasion for the fourth yr in a row.
Regardless of dropping in his three prior begins this yr, Gold Phoenix introduced his “A” sport to his favourite race, gutting out the victory in a four-way blanket end Aug. 30 at Del Mar. By prevailing within the Del Mar ‘Cap, a Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection: Win and You are In contest for the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T), the gelding can be bringing his connections again to the World Championships for the fourth time.Gold Phoenix (IRE), ch, 7/g
Belardo (IRE) — Magnifica, by Mizzen Mast
Proprietor: Agave Racing Steady, Little Crimson Feather Racing or Naify, et al
Breeder: Mighty Universe Ltd (IRE)
Coach: Philip D’Amato
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Info offered by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Belardo (IRE) stands at Bearstone Stud for five,500 Kilos (2024).
Sale Historical past
KEECHP2024 • $125,000 • Consignor: Little Crimson Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify • Purchaser: Agave Racing Steady.
GOFSPT2019 • ($26,314 RNA) • Consignor: Milltown Stud.
“It is an unimaginable story, this horse will now carry us to 4 consecutive Breeders’ Cups,” stated Gary Fenton, the managing companion for co-owner Little Crimson Feather Racing. “He is only a super horse, a horse that you aren’t getting fairly often.”
Gold Phoenix, the 2-1 favourite, was reunited with jockey Flavien Prat for the primary time since 2022 when the pair landed the 2022 Del Mar ‘Cap earlier than ending tenth within the Breeders’ Cup Turf. As Saturday’s race unfolded, Gold Phoenix took up his customary midpack place as front-running Remaining Boss tried to lull the sphere to sleep by way of leisurely early fractions of :25.05, :50.89, and 1:16.51. Passing the mile marker, Gold Phoenix, racing within the clear your entire journey, abruptly sprang to motion underneath Prat. Filled with momentum and widest of all into the lane, the gritty gelding fought off rivals from all sides in a hair-raising stretch drive.
Ultimately, he was a neck in entrance of Keep Scorching , who had taken the lead in midstretch, and Atitlan , with a comebacking Actually High quality crossing the road in fourth on the far outdoors. Join BloodHorse Every day
“I believed on the sixteenth pole he wasn’t going to get there,” stated Little Crimson Feather Racing’s founder Billy Koch on the partnership’s X web page. “He is bought a lot guts.”
Photograph: Benoit PhotoGold Phoenix and jockey Flavien Prat battle to the wire to win the Del Mar Handicap
Gold Phoenix ($6.20) stopped the clock in 2:16.09 over the agency turf, operating the gap a second sooner than his time from final yr’s race.
By Belardo , who was represented by a graded winner on the East Coast Saturday in Women Turf Stakes (G3T) winner Particular Wan , Gold Phoenix gave coach Phil D’Amato an unprecedented tenth title within the Del Mar Handicap. Bred in Eire by Mighty Universe, Gold Phoenix races for the possession group of Little Crimson Feather Racing, Agave Racing Steady, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify. The gelding joined D’Amato’s barn at the beginning of his 4-year-old marketing campaign.
Gold Phoenix has come a good distance since his preliminary North American win in April 2022. Seven graded stakes wins, together with a grade 1, and three journeys to the Breeders’ Cup Turf later, the previous warrior will carry his staff to the World Championships as soon as once more. Maybe this can be his yr in a becoming ending to a memorable profession.
Video: Del Mar H. Introduced by The Japan Racing Affiliation (G2T)
