Gold Phoenix keeps plugging toward Breeders' Cup by going in John Henry

In a season in which many Breeders’ Cup hopefuls are staying in the barn in early autumn, the turf stayer Gold Phoenix is an exception.

The 5-year-old gelding needs action and will start in Sunday’s Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita in advance of an expected appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

“I’ve learned from prior experience when they’re going good and need to run, you’re better off running them,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “He’s in good shape.”

Gold Phoenix is part of a field of eight in the $200,000 John Henry Championship, the third and final stakes on a nine-race program. D’Amato has three of the runners, including Masteroffoxhounds, who won the 2022 John Henry, and Cash Equity, who was third behind Gold Phoenix in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Sept. 2.

Planetario, winner of the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita in June; Speaking Scout, who won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar last November; and the recent $80,000 claim Yes This Time are other notable runners.

Gold Phoenix had a perfect summer meeting at Del Mar for the Little Red Feather Racing partnership, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify. Gold Phoenix won the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on July 30 and closed from 10th of 11 to win the Del Mar Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths for the second consecutive year.

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Gold Phoenix earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf with the win in the Del Mar Handicap. This is a familiar series of races for Gold Phoenix. Last year, Gold Phoenix finished third by a neck in the John Henry Championship, but was only 10th of 13 at 41-1 in the BC Turf at Keeneland.

A start on Sunday allows D’Amato to prepare for the BC Turf with less training in coming weeks.

“I think it keeps him in that form cycle,” he said. “I don’t have to do much with him race to race. He’s happy and healthy.”

Planetario was fifth in the Del Mar Handicap, losing by 2 1/4 lengths after racing within a length of the lead in the stretch. A three-time stakes winner in Brazil in 2021, Planetario impressed trainer Richard Mandella enough through September to plan a start in the John Henry.

“I was really disappointed in the last one,” Mandella said. “I wasn’t going to run here, but he’s picked up his game back up in the last 10 days, so I’ll give it a try. He seems to be happy and feeling good, like he used to be.”

Yes This Time was claimed for $80,000 at Del Mar by owner Ken Ramsey and trainer Peter Miller and finished third in the Tapit Stakes at a mile and 70 yards on Aug. 31 at Kentucky Downs. Yes This Time was gelded in early August.

“I think he fits,” Miller said. “Like all turf races, it’s always about the trip. If we get the right trip and the right setup, he’s one of the horses that can win it.”

Unzip Me draws 10

Earlier on Sunday’s program, the turf stakes winners Fast and Shiny, Wed, and Wide West are among 10 3-year-old fillies entered in the $100,000 Unzip Me Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Wed and Fast and Shiny have not raced since they finished eighth and last of 14 in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at a mile on turf on July 22 at Del Mar.

Wed won the Group 2 Prix de Calvados for 2-year-old fillies in France in 2022. Fast and Shiny won the Angels Flight Stakes on the hillside course in March.

Wide West was recently transferred from Tom Proctor to D’Amato. She won the Roar Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park in May, but was seventh of nine in the Daisycutter Handicap for female turf sprinters on July 28 at Del Mar.

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