Gold Phoenix ends layoff with surprising Frank Kilroe victory
ARCADIA, Calif. - Since last summer, Gold Phoenix has developed a reputation as a reliable runner in Southern California marathon turf stakes.
Turns out he is a fine miler at the highest level, too.
In his first start since a 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland last November, Gold Phoenix rallied from off the pace to score an upset win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Gold Phoenix, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, was one of four runners in the field trained by Phil D’Amato and was the longest shot of the quartet. Gold Phoenix paid $23.60 and ran a mile in 1:34.45.
The win was a milestone victory for jockey Kazushi Kimura, his first win in a Grade 1 in the United States. Kimura, the leading rider at Woodbine near Toronto in 2021 and 2022, is based at Santa Anita this winter.
Gold Phoenix closed from sixth to win by a neck over 10-1 Du Jour, a result that left D’Amato slightly surprised.
“I knew I had him fit,” D’Amato said. “I thought if he got everything his way he could win.”
Kimura had Gold Phoenix on the inside on the turn and moved the gelding to the outside in early stretch. Gold Phoenix rallied between Cabo Spirit and Hong Kong Harry to reach the front in the final strides.
Du Jour (10-1) closed from last with a wide rally under jockey Frankie Dettori to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of 37-1 Cabo Spirit. Du Jour broke from post 7 in a field of eight and was at the back of the field for the first half-mile.
“I had a bad post and I had to go wide,” Dettori said.
Cabo Spirit finished a neck in front of even-money favorite Hong Kong Harry, who was followed by Air Force Red, Masteroffoxhounds, Balnikhov and Royal Ship.
Hong Kong Harry, a three-time graded stakes winner at a mile on turf last year, was well placed throughout, tracking pacesetter Air Force Red through early fractions of 23.08 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.06 for a half-mile.
Jockey Flavien Prat moved Hong Kong Harry into contention on the turn, but the 6-year-old gelding was not a factor in the final sixteenth.
“I was pleased with my trip,” Prat said. “He struggled to go by horses.”
Aside from Gold Phoenix, D’Amato trains Hong Kong Harry, Masteroffoxhounds and Balnikhov.
Gold Phoenix, by Belardo, races for Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify. Gold Phoenix won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf last September and was later third behind Masteroffoxhounds in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles on turf last October.
Gold Phoenix has earned $675,257. The Kilroe Mile win was worth $300,000.
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