King of Gosford's Desert Code victory has D'Amato thinking mile race on turf next

ARCADIA, Calif. - King of Gosford’s career will change in coming months.

A third win in as many starts this year in Sunday’s $100,500 Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita marked the last of his appearances in sprints.

The next objective is a career debut at a mile on turf in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on July 20.

“I don’t think a mile will be an issue,” trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday.

In the Desert Code Stakes, King of Gosford had an ideal trip under jockey Antonio Fresu, stalking pacesetter All That Glory before taking the lead in the final sixteenth.

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Sent off as a strong favorite, King of Gosford ($3.40) won by a neck over 5-1 All That Glory, who finished a length in front of 5-2 Guy Named Joe.

Sorrento Sky, Rastaman Vibe, and Wynstock completed the order of finish.

King of Gosford was timed in 1:12.02 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

All That Glory, a maiden race winner at six furlongs on turf on May 5, had his stakes debut in the Desert Code Stakes. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, All That Glory set an early pace of 22.28 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.26 for a half-mile.

All That Glory led by a half-length when the field crossed onto the main turf course and ran well to the finish despite losing narrowly.

“I thought it was a big step forward,” trainer Tim Yakteen said. “No disgrace to run second to that colt.”

Yakteen said All That Glory is likely to be tried at a longer distance in his next start.

King of Gosford, a British-bred colt by the Northern Meteor stallion Zoustar, has earned $160,000 this year. Owned by the partnership of Sandra Benowitz, John Rochfort, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff, King of Gosford won an allowance race at six furlongs on turf in his American debut on March 10, and the John Shear Stakes on the hillside turf course on April 7.

In Ireland, King of Gosford won a seven-furlong handicap for 2-year-olds on the all-weather track at Dundalk Racecourse last October.

Despite the narrow margin of the win in the Desert Code, D’Amato said King of Gosford has the tactical speed to be successful at longer distances.

“He does just enough,” he said. “Horses that do that are better when you stretch them out. When he had a head in front, he went into idle.”

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