Gold Phoenix notches second consecutive Del Mar Handicap, gains BC Turf berth
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Distances do not seem to matter to Gold Phoenix this year. He is winning at nearly everything tried.
After a victory in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March and the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in July, Gold Phoenix won Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles for the second consecutive year under a confident ride by jockey Juan Hernandez.
The win gave Gold Phoenix a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. Last year, Gold Phoenix followed his win in the Del Mar Handicap with a 10th-place finish in a field of 13 in the BC Turf at Keeneland. This year, Gold Phoenix gets to stay in Southern California.
Sent off favored, Gold Phoenix ($7) closed from 10th in a field of 11 in the Del Mar Handicap, closing rapidly between rivals in the final quarter-mile. Fourth by slightly more than two lengths with a furlong remaining, Gold Phoenix won by 1 1/4 lengths over 13-1 Nineeleventurbo, who led in the stretch.
Hernandez moved Gold Phoenix off the inside on the turn and had a clear path at a pivotal time in early stretch.
“The plan was to save ground,” Hernandez said. “My horse relaxed very well. He was so patient. I let him be comfortable.”
Hernandez was frustrated earlier on Saturday when Exaulted could finish only second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile after the rider chose to take an inside trip through the stretch. Exaulted raced in traffic and could not catch race winner Du Jour.
In the Del Mar Handicap, Hernandez took no chances, moving Gold Phoenix wide at the first opportunity.
“This time, I thought I’ll go outside,” Hernandez said. “I had a lot of horses in front of me. I found some space.”
Gold Phoenix was timed in 2:15.34 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
Nineeleventurbo was third for the first mile under jockey Ramon Vazquez, led with a furlong remaining, and finished a nose in front of 10-1 Cash Equity.
“It was a nice ride,” trainer Neil Drysdale said of Vazquez’s ride. “He was in the right place.”
Gold Phoenix and Cash Equity are trained by Phil D’Amato.
Missed the Cut finished fourth, followed by Planetario, Cathkin Peak, Offlee Naughty, None Above the Law, Win the Day, Crosby Beach and Azul Coast.
Gold Phoenix, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Belardo, races for Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify, and has won 6 of 15 starts. The Del Mar Handicap was worth $180,000, pushing Gold Phoenix’s career earnings to $1,017,757.
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