Gold Phoenix bests D'Amato stablemate Prince Abama in Whittingham

ARCADIA, Calif. – Less than an hour after Stronghold finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs for trainer Phil D’Amato, the California-based stable had a brighter result when Gold Phoenix and Prince Abama finished first and second in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita.

Gold Phoenix, winless in three starts since the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last September, closed from a stalking position to win the $201,500 race at 1 1/4 miles on turf by a head over 13-1 Prince Abama. Planetario, the 2-1 favorite, overcame traffic issues in early stretch to finish third, a nose behind Prince Abama.

Gold Phoenix ($13.80) was timed in 2:00.91 and gave winning jockey Kyle Frey his richest and most prestigious victory of the year. Gold Phoenix earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Frey had Gold Phoenix in third for the first six furlongs, tracking pacesetter Balladeer through early fractions of 24.14 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.31 for a half-mile. Frey moved Gold Phoenix closer to 8-1 Balladeer on the turn and had advanced to second turning into the stretch.

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Balladeer led with a furlong remaining, but could not sustain the advantage, fading in the final sixteenth. Gold Phoenix was fully extended to hold off Prince Abama and Planetario.

“I think the key was getting him out of the gate and settling where I wanted to,” Frey said. “I gave it all I had in the last eighth. It was pretty darn close.”

Planetario was followed by Offlee Naughty, Balladeer, Rockemperor, Dicey Mo Chara, and War At Sea.

Gold Phoenix, a 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding by the Lope de Vega stallion Belardo, has won 7 of 19 starts and earned $1,342,257.

The win gave Gold Phoenix a berth to the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, near London, on July 6. The Eclipse Stakes, run at 1 1/4 miles on a course with a slight uphill finish, is one of Britain’s leading races at the distance.

Gary Fenton of Little Red Feather Racing, a partnership that co-owns Gold Phoenix with Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify, said a journey to Sandown Park will be considered.

“We would have to discuss it with the team,” Fenton said. “Our year-end goal is the Breeders’ Cup [Turf at Del Mar]."

Gold Phoenix had by far his best season in 2023, winning three top turf races in California - the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March, the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar in July, and the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles.

Gold Phoenix was fourth in the 2023 Whittingham as the 8-5 favorite. Earlier this year, Gold Phoenix was ninth of 10 in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf on April 4 in his first start since a fourth-place finish at 51-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita last November.

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