For the third straight year, Gold Phoenix flew late to capture the Del Mar H. (G2) and book his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). The Phil D’Amato veteran boldly rallied up the rail to nab frontrunning Dicey Mo Chara in Saturday’s $300,500 renewal at Del Mar.
The pace scenario changed markedly with the scratch of Balladeer, who promised to set an honest tempo for the 1 3/8-mile contest. In his absence, Dicey Mo Chara seized the initiative and nearly stole it through slow fractions of :25.77, :51.13. 1:16.44, and 1:41.44 on the firm course.
Master Piece did his best to keep up a modicum of pressure in second, but that uncharacteristic prompting role took him a bit out of his element. Although Gold Phoenix likewise lay closer than usual in third, the 2.40-1 favorite had cover by stalking on the rail.
Flanking Gold Phoenix was the Argentine import El Encinal. Last seen landing the “Win and You’re In” Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional (G1) Dec. 16, El Encinal was using the Del Mar ‘Cap as a warm-up for the Breeders’ Cup. The race shape arguably did him no favors, as he was totally outpaced when it turned into a mad dash for home.
Gold Phoenix’s jockey, Kyle Frey, initially appeared to probe for a potential way off the fence. But that door remained firmly closed when stablemate Rockemperor advanced on the outside.
A better opportunity unfolded right ahead of Gold Phoenix. Dicey Mo Chara drifted out, a seam opened up on the rail, and Gold Phoenix had his path to victory.
As Dicey Mo Chara and Master Piece grappled down the stretch, and Gold Phoenix joined the fray, they briefly evoked memories of the 2022 Del Mar ‘Cap. The same trio fought out the finish two years ago, albeit in different circumstances, with Gold Phoenix swooping widest of all to deny Master Piece and Dicey Mo Chara.
This time, Gold Phoenix was the one who took the inside route and prevailed by a neck. Dicey Mo Chara, third two years ago, held the runner-up spot Saturday. Master Piece was unable to complete the reunion theme, for he retreated late to fifth.
The D’Amato barn supplied the third- and fourth-place finishers, Balnikhov and Rockemperor, along with the winner. Balnikhov erupted belatedly in his first try at this distance, just a head away from catching Dicey Mo Chara at the wire. Rockemperor headed Master Piece for fourth, while El Encinal reported home another five lengths back in last.
There Goes Harvard was scratched in favor of the Pacific Classic (G1) later on the card.
Gold Phoenix became the first-ever three-time winner of the Del Mar ‘Cap. Dating back to the track’s inaugural 1937 season, the race was held on dirt for the first three decades. There was a turf interlude from 1969 to 1975, followed by a return to the main track from 1976-85. The 1986 running fixed the conditions of the Del Mar ‘Cap as a 1 3/8-mile affair on turf.
Thanks to the lack of pace, this third win was the slowest. Gold Phoenix clocked 2:17.05 on Saturday, compared to 2:14.51 in 2022 and 2:15.34 last year.
Gold Phoenix’s historic three-peat was accomplished with different riders: Flavien Prat, Juan Hernandez, and now Frey.
“He’s such a cool horse,” Frey said. “He just does what he does and he loves to fight. He’s fun to (gallop and work) in the mornings. He knows what it’s all about.
“Coming for home today on the inside, I was hoping something was going to open up. I said to myself, ‘If it doesn’t, I’m going to make it open up.’ Didn’t have to, happily. He’s just fun to ride.”
D’Amato, who has won the Del Mar ‘Cap nine times in the past 11 years, admitted that he had some trepidation about whether Gold Phoenix would get up.
“Definitely — whether we were going to get through and then whether we were going to carry our momentum,” the trainer said of his anxious moments.
“Kyle (Frey) just kept going and riding and riding and kept his head down, and the big horse got his head in front and got the job done. He’s got a heart of gold. Whenever he can get clear, he makes things happen.”
Campaigned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify, Gold Phoenix has compiled a record of 21-8-3-3, $1,522,712. His other stakes victories have come in the 2023 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) and Eddie Read (G2) as well as the May 4 Charles Whittingham (G2). The chestnut made his stakes debut in the 2022 Whittingham, finishing third, and he also collected the bronze medal in that fall’s John Henry Turf Championship (G2).
Gold Phoenix was an honorable fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, faring much better than his 10th in the 2022 running at Keeneland. With Del Mar hosting the championships this year, the six-year-old gelding hopes to sneak into the frame.
By the Lope de Vega stallion Belardo, Irish-bred Gold Phoenix is out of Magnifica, who is a full sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Giant Treasure (formerly known as Sea Defence). The Mizzen Mast mare is also a full sister to multiple Grade 2 scorer Jibboom, herself the dam of current Bed o’ Roses (G2) vixen Accede and Group 3 winner Flying Jib.
