Masteroffoxhounds, Gold Phoenix try to give D'Amato first Whittingham victory
ARCADIA, Calif. – No trainer in California starts more runners in graded stakes on turf than Phil D’Amato. But he has not yet won them all.
D’Amato is 0 for 9 in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham, a mark likely to be corrected Saturday at Santa Anita. D’Amato entered three in the Whittingham, including the two likely favorites.
Graded stakes winners Gold Phoenix and Masteroffoxhounds will be well backed in the Whittingham, a mile and one-quarter turf race for 3-year-olds and up that is race 5. The Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby is race 6.
Seven were entered in the Whittingham, including comeback distance specialist Offlee Naughty, graded winner Dicey Mo Chara, graded-placed Opry, and starter allowance-caliber Oncoming. D’Amato also entered allowance winner Midnight Jostar.
Masteroffoxhounds finished sixth last out in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile, which was won by Gold Phoenix. The distance was not right for Masteroffoxhounds, nor was the pace. Saturday, he could make the lead and set slow splits while stretching out to his preferred trip.
“He has run most of his best races at a mile and a quarter,” D’Amato said. “It seems like his ideal distance.”
A 6-year-old horse owned by Rockingham Ranch, Masteroffoxhounds is a two-time Grade 2 winner at a mile and a quarter. Umberto Rispoli rides Masteroffoxhounds, a 4-for-23 front-runner/pace-presser whose main rival is his late-running stablemate.
Gold Phoenix was the least regarded of four D’Amato runners in the Kilroe, but he outran his price and won by a neck at $23.60. The longer distance Saturday is not an issue for Gold Phoenix, who last year won a Grade 2 at a mile and three-eighths.
“A mile and quarter is perfect for him, too,” D’Amato said. “He’s training up a storm. Between those two, I like my chances.”
Kazushi Kimura rides Gold Phoenix, a 5-year-old gelding who has won 4 of 11. He is owned by Little Red Feather, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify.
Offlee Naughty enters the Whittingham as an upset candidate for trainer Michael McCarthy. An allowance-caliber distance specialist based this past winter in Kentucky, his campaign was interrupted when an allowance race was canceled and insufficient earnings did not allow him to make the field for the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway.
McCarthy brought Offlee Naughty back to California this week. He is unraced since December, which is not an issue, McCarthy said.
“His fitness level is fine, he’s doing well, and he deserves a shot,” McCarthy said. “He’ll run two miles.”
Plans call for Offlee Naughty to campaign this spring in California turf marathons. Following the Whittingham, he is likely to target the Grade 3 San Luis Rey on May 13, and Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano on June 18. John Velazquez rides Offlee Naughty.
Opry was claimed for $25,000 in November and already has earned $69,000 in two starts for trainer George Papaprodromou. Opry, whose rider is Frankie Dettori, finished third last out in the San Marcos, only a half-length behind runner-up Masteroffoxhounds.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.