Barn Tour: D'Amato on Breeders' Cup plans and more

Phil D’Amato ran away with the trainer’s crown at the Santa Anita winter-spring meet and is in the hunt to capture his first Del Mar summer meet title since 2017.

D’Amato has saddled 16 winners at Del Mar, one behind co-leaders Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill. He’ll have plenty of bullets to try and make up that slim margin this week, beginning Friday when he has five horses entered on the eight-race program.

D’Amato also entered a trio of horse’s in Saturday’s co-feature at Del Mar, the $250,000 John C. Mabee (G2), plus he will enter debut-winning 2-year-old Classical Cat in Sunday’s $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1).

On Wednesday, Horse Racing Nation caught up with D’Amato for this Barn Tour.

D’Amato said the Cupid filly will make one more start this year then get a break before gearing up for a 4-year-old campaign. When and where that start comes remains to be determined, though he said it likely will not be the Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita on Oct. 2.

“The Zenyatta would be back a little quick. I’ll just find a spot, run her and then give her a month or two, so we’ll have her ready for a 4-year-old season,” D’Amato said.

An Arizona-bred for owner-breeder H and E Ranch, Desert Dawn has banked $621,150 with a record of 11: 2-2-4.

Gold Phoenix. The Irish-bred earned an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf when winning the Del Mar Handicap (G2) on Saturday. The 4-year-old gelding’s only previous stakes try came in the spring when third in the Charles Whittingham (G2) at Santa Anita.

D’Amato said Gold Phoenix is unlikely to have another start prior to shipping to Keeneland for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 5. If he does have a prep, it likely would be the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship (G2) at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

“I’ll just kind of let him decide whether we run before (the Breeders’ Cup), but I’d say right now we’re leaning towards waiting for Keeneland,” D’Amato said.

While the trainer noted the Turf would be a major class test for Gold Phoenix, he added the gelding should relish the race’s 1 1/2-mile distance as well as the softer going at Keeneland.

“I don’t think he has distance limitations. And he has a European pedigree as well, so I don’t think a softer course would hurt his chances at all,” D’Amato said.

Hong Kong Harry. This Irish-bred gelding, a 5-year-old, has won 4 of 5 starts since arriving from Europe, including Saturday’s Del Mar Mile (G2). D’Amato said Hong Kong Harry was not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup and will not be supplemented. Instead the City of Hope (G2) on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita and Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar on Nov. 26 make up the likely fall agenda for Hong Kong Harry.

“There was discussion,” D’Amato said of possibly paying a six-figure supplemental fee to nominate to the Breeders’ Cup, a cost that would cover the rest of the horse’s career. “But I think this horse, as opposed to Gold Phoenix, appreciates a firmer surface. I’ve shipped to Keeneland and Churchill during that time of year, and the chances of getting that firm surface are not good. I didn’t think the risk-reward was there.”

Going Global and Going to Vegas. Both were entered in Saturday’s Mabee at Del Mar, a race Going to Vegas won last year on her way to the Breeders’ Cup.

Going Global has been a dominant force in Southern California since arriving from her native Ireland in early 2020. She is exiting a sharp three-length victory in last month’s Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2) at Del Mar.

“She came out of the race in excellent shape. It was a smashing performance,” D’Amato said. “She’s coming into the race the right way. But, you know, she’s going to have to face a fresh horse in Going to Vegas. She is doing extremely well.”

Going to Vegas followed her win in last year’s Mabee by taking down the Rodeo Drive (G1) at Santa Anita. In the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar, she set the pace before fading to finish 11th of 12.

Going to Vegas, a 5-year-old mare by Goldencents, has not started since a runner-up finish in the May 30 Gamely (G1) at Santa Anita.

As for Going Global, another strong performance on Saturday, and she could be ticketed to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Typically run at 1 1/4 miles, this year’s race will be contested at 1 3/16 miles due to the configuration at Keeneland. D’Amato thought such a trip could be in Going Global’s scope.

“The Breeders’ Cup would definitely be on the radar this year,” D’Amato confirmed.

Classical Cat. The Mendelssohn colt who sold at auction as a yearling for just $65,000 debuted Aug. 20 at Del Mar and promptly scored by 2 1/2 lengths. The runner-up in the race? Hejazi, a $3.55 million auction buy trained by Bob Baffert.

Following the debut win, Classical Cat returned with a five-furlong work in 1:00.4 on Sunday at Del Mar.

“We will enter the (Futurity),” D’Amato confirmed. “He came out of his race in great shape and had a really nice breeze. He’ll have to run against some monster Baffert horses, but I definitely think he’s up for the challenge.”

D’Amato, who is not known for winning with first-time starters on dirt, said he was not surprised by the debut effort from Classical Cat.

“Not at all. He had trained extremely well, and I thought he was going to run a really good race,” D’Amato said. “Did I think he was going to win? No. But did think he would give forth a good effort and finish in the top three. He broke in a nice tactical spot, took the lead at the top of the stretch and I thought was drawing away.”

Count Again. The 7-year-old gelding has not started since winning the May 30 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, which secured him a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile. He’s been on a steady work pattern since mid-July, but D’Amato said it was unlikely he would have a start before the Breeders’ Cup.

“He’s a horse that gives you so much in every race, he’s good for a handful of races every year. He’s going to give you 100 percent, then you have to kind of give him to recuperate. So that’s our plan now (to wait for the Breeders’ Cup),” D’Amato said.

Counterparty Risk. Formerly trained by Chad Brown, the 5-year-old mare was entered in last year’s Keeneland November breeding-stock sale, where she was purchased for $400,000 by Heider Family Stables. She subsequently was sent to D’Amato in California.

Last month at Del Mar, in her second start for her new trainer, Counterparty Risk responded with a half-length win in a second-level, turf allowance, a performance that was well rated.

“She was sent to me to run on the West Coast, because it seemed she would like the firmer turf courses you get in California. She ran a really nice race,” D’Amato noted.

He added Counterparty Risk, who won last year's Endeavour (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs while with Brown, could return to stakes company next in the restricted Swingtime at Santa Anita on Oct. 9.