D'Amato splitting up Read top-four for next starts

Trainer Phil D’Amato’s turf heavy stable delivered a career milestone Sunday, sweeping the top four positions in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar with Gold Phoenix, Balnikhov, Masteroffoxhounds, and Count Again.

“That was a fun day to see all four of your horses perform well and be competitive from the eighth pole to the wire,” D’Amato reflected on Monday. “It was a great experience and something I won’t forget.”

Rival stables will be encouraged to learn that D’Amato is unlikely to equal that feat through the remainder of the Del Mar summer meeting that ends Sept. 10.

Gold Phoenix, who closed from fifth of nine to win the Read at 1 1/8 miles on turf by three-quarters of a length over Balnikhov, is a candidate for the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf Sept. 2, a race he won in 2022.

D’Amato said Gold Phoenix may be his lone runner in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. Gold Phoenix was 10th of 13 in the 2022 BC Turf at Keeneland.

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Balnikhov and Count Again are likely to start in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf Sept. 2, while Masteroffoxhounds could run in a stakes at Kentucky Downs in late August or early September.

D’Amato’s Del Mar Mile team is likely to include Hong Kong Harry, who won the race in 2022.

“Maybe a trifecta is in the workings,” D’Amato said.

Gold Phoenix ended a two-race losing streak since the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita in March in the $252,000 Eddie Read. Jockey Hector Berrios, who through Sunday was tied for the lead in the jockey standings at 11 wins with Juan Hernandez, rode Gold Phoenix for the first time in the Read.

Gold Phoenix caught pacesetter Masteroffoxhounds in the final furlong.

“I thought he would have the jump on the deep closers like Balnihkov and Count Again,” D’Amato said. “It was a question of him firing. Hector Berrios has breezed him the last two times and the last time he was impressed with him.

“I don’t know Hector very well. He’s always been to the point. I could see the excitement in his face the last time I breezed him.”

Berrios began riding in California in 2022, having relocated from Florida.

“He’s just one of those of those riders that has excellent hands,” D’Amato said. “Horses run for him. He puts them in the right position. When you have all those things going for you, you’re going to win races on good horses.”

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