D'Amato focused on Del Mar stakes wins, not training title
Phil D’Amato shared the 2017 Del Mar training championship with Richard Baltas when they saddled 18 winners apiece. D’Amato claimed it outright in 2016 with 23 wins.
But on Opening Day of the 2018 Del Mar Summer season, D’Amato allowed that his name wouldn’t be atop the leaderboard when the 79th such meeting comes to an end on Labor Day.
“Realistically, I don’t think I have the horses to do it,” D’Amato said Wednesday morning. “I’ve got a good chance to be competitive in the stakes races, that’s my focus. A big win total is neither here nor there. I’m trying to take down these stakes races and develop some horses.
“I really don’t have much in the claiming ranks and you really need those horses to get the ‘Ws’ to contend for a training title.”
The late Mike Mitchell, D’Amato’s mentor and the man whose stable D’Amato took over, strung together four straight training titles from 1981-84, one shared with D. Wayne Lukas. Since then, with the exception of Bob Baffert’s seven straight from 1997-2003, back-to-back has been the max for Del Mar titleists.
“I think it’s possible (to win more than two) these days if you have a real diversified stable with horses at all levels, top to bottom,” D’Amato said.
And while his streak may be ending, D’Amato has a strong suspicion about which of his fellow trainers is poised to start one here.
“If I’m a betting man and I’m betting on trainers to win the title this summer at Del Mar, I’m betting on Doug O’Neill,” D’Amato said. “He’s well diversified and he’s the heavy favorite.”
That was said before O'Neill won four races on Wednesday's opening day card.
D’Amato’s stakes quest began in the $100,000 Oceanside with Heartfullofstars. It will extend through the opening weekend where he has Fizzy Friday in Friday's Osunitas; Miss Sienna for Saturday’s Grade II $200,000 San Clemente; Bowies Hero and Hunt for Sunday’s $250,000 Grade II Eddie Read; and Kenjisstorm for Sunday’s $75,000 Wickerr.