D'Amato has multiple contenders for Saturday stakes

In the last decade, the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap has been an annual gathering of many of trainer Phil D’Amato’s leading turf marathoners – and a successful one.

D’Amato has won the race seven times since 2014, including five of the last six runnings. In Saturday’s $300,000 running, D’Amato again has a deep team with three expected runners in Cash Equity, Cathkin Peak, and Gold Phoenix, who won the race in 2022.

The trio are among an expected double-digit group of starters for D’Amato in graded stakes on turf at Del Mar this weekend, a calendar highlighted by Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on dirt.

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D’Amato’s high-profile stable is in the midst of a successful summer meeting at Del Mar. Through Sunday, D’Amato ranked second in the trainer standings with 15 wins, one less than leader Doug O’Neill.

Also on Saturday, D’Amato has three candidates for the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf – Balnikhov, Count Again, and Hong Kong Harry, who won the race last year.

D’Amato, who has won the Del Mar Mile three times, said plans are tentative.

“That could change in a day or two,” he said.

The $300,000 Del Mar Mile is led by Exaulted, winner of the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 29 at Santa Anita in his last start.

On Saturday, Hong Kong Harry will have a new rider in Ramon Vazquez, who replaces Flavien Prat. Prat is booked to ride Du Jour for trainer Bob Baffert.

Vazquez rode Hong Kong Harry to a win in the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita in June 2022.

“He knows him well,” D’Amato said.

The stable plans three runners for Saturday’s Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf – Beer Can Man, Motorious, and Turn on the Jets. D’Amato has never won the Green Flash.

The main race on Sunday is the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf, a race D’Amato last won in 2014.

This year, D’Amato plans to start at least two runners – Almendares and Conclude – and may run Classical Cat.

The expected field includes Maltese Falcon, winner of the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 on turf Aug. 6.

The $1 million Pacific Classic has 11 probable starters – Arabian Knight, Defunded, Geaux Rocket Ride, Katonah, Order and Law, Piroli, Senor Buscador, Skinner, Slow Down Andy, Stilleto Boy, and Tripoli. D’Amato’s stable does not have a runner.

Trainer Bob Hess, Jr. said Monday morning that he plans to enter Order and Law, the upset winner of the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on July 23 at Del Mar.

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