Keeneland Championship sale: Partial ownership in Gold Phoenix to be offered

A 25 percent share of Gold Phoenix, the veteran California-based turf marathoner, will be offered at the newly created Keeneland Championship sale in the Del Mar paddock on the evening of Oct. 30.

Gold Phoenix, who is scheduled to start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 2, is one of 10 active horses in the auction, a group that includes five intended for Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 1-2. Shares in the stallion Flightline and future stallion Cogburn will be offered.

The 10 active horses will not physically go through the sales ring, although a majority will be available for inspection in the Del Mar stables.

Aside from Gold Phoenix, 25 percent interests are available in Kilwin, a candidate for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Book ‘em Danno, who is entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 Perryville Stakes at Keeneland. A 50 percent share will be offered in Mufasa, a probable starter in the BC Dirt Mile.

Full interests will be available in Pandora’s Gift, a hopeful for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint; She’s Got a Way, a candidate for the Juvenile Turf Sprint; as well as Cornell, Green Light, Reincarnate, and Rothschild, who have all won or placed in stakes.

Keeneland is conducting the sale and is requiring that potential bidders pre-register.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP TURF: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more

Gold Phoenix, a 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding, races for the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify. Gold Phoenix has won 8 of 22 starts and earned $1,537,757. In August, Gold Phoenix won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap for a record-breaking third time, earning a fees-paid berth to the $5 million BC Turf.

The existing partners will have diluted interests in Gold Phoenix after the sale, according to Billy Koch, the managing partner of the Little Red Feather partnership.

“It gives someone a chance to participate in a race that is worth $5 million on a track where he’s won three straight Del Mar Handicaps,” Koch said.

“We thought it would be an interesting concept to bring someone along for the ride. He’s durable and consistent and we think he’s got more racing in him.”

Gold Phoenix finished fifth in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita on Sept. 28.

“There was no pace in there and he likes to be covered up,” Koch said.

Gold Phoenix is a 6-year-old gelding. Koch said assessing a value on a quarter-interest is difficult.

“That’s the question we’d all like to find out,” he said.

Gold Phoenix is trained by Phil D’Amato, who said on Friday that another runner from his stable, Masteroffoxhounds, will be pre-entered for the BC Turf.

A two-time stakes winner, Masteroffoxhounds was second in an allowance race at Keeneland on Oct. 10.

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