D'Amato has things covered in the San Luis Rey
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ARCADIA, Calif. – A pair of 7-year-old stablemates, Gold Phoenix and Easter, figure to attract the most attention Saturday in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes on turf at Santa Anita. The second-best horse could be the most likely winner.
Gold Phoenix is the class of the field, but the San Luis Rey would be his first start in more than four months. Easter has not won a race since 2023, but his fast-closing runner-up finish last out at a mile and one-quarter suggests he will relish a mile and one-half in the San Luis Rey.
Either way, trainer Phil D’Amato has the race covered. In addition to 7-5 morning-line favorite Gold Phoenix and 2-1 second choice Easter, D’Amato has Divin Propos (6-1) in the San Luis Rey. Others include Wizard of Westwood, Megayacht, Balladeer, Midnight Mammoth, and Atitlan.
Gold Phoenix showed no signs of tailing off as a 6-year-old last year, “and he hasn’t shown any signs of tailing off his last couple breezes,” D’Amato said. “Kyle Frey rode him last year, he’s been breezing him, and he’s as sharp as ever. Kind of excited to get him going.”
Although he’s won six graded stakes and more than $1.7 million from 23 starts, Gold Phoenix has not raced since Nov. 2, when he was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He might need a comeback prep, as he finished off the board the last two times he returned from a layoff.
If Gold Phoenix needs a race, his stablemate can carry the day. Easter won two Grade 2 races in late 2023, but his career sputtered last year, with six starts producing just one runner-up finish. D’Amato’s goal for 2025 is to transform Easter from a middle-distance turf horse to a marathon specialist.
“He acts like a horse that can run all day, and he ran a valiant second last time,” D’Amato said. “I think a little extra yardage [in the San Luis Rey] should be right in his wheelhouse.”
Easter ran super finishing second last out in the Grade 3 San Marcos at a mile and one-quarter. In a race dominated by speed, Easter rallied from last under regular rider Antonio Fresu. The longer distance of the San Luis Rey may benefit Easter.
D’Amato also entered Divin Propos, who is unplaced in three graded stakes. A second-level allowance winner last summer, Divin Propos might be a notch below graded caliber. D’Amato is hopeful new rider Ricky Gonzalez can get him into the race earlier.
“He’s kind of gotten out of the gate sluggishly the last two times,” D’Amato said. “He seems to run his better races when he’s more forwardly placed. At a mile and a half, I don’t think anybody is gonna be quarter-horsing.”
The complexion of the San Luis Rey is subject to change. Three trainers with San Luis Rey entrants mentioned an open allowance scheduled for March 30 as an alternative. That race is a mile and one-eighth on turf.
Favorites have won the last four editions of the San Luis Rey and six of the last seven.
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