Gold Phoenix launches 7-year-old season in San Luis Rey
Grade 1 winner Gold Phoenix, unraced since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar, launches his 7-year-old campaign Saturday in the $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (G1) going 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, Gold Phoenix finished 3 1/2 lengths back of winner Rebels Romance as a 32-1 long shot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, also at 1 1/2 miles. The Belardo gelding has worked eight times at Santa Anita since Jan. 27 for his comeback. He will have regular rider Kyle Frey in the irons.
Gold Phoenix enters with a record of 23: 8-3-3 and $1,787,757 in earnings. He is owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, Marsha Naify and Agave Racing Stable. Last year, Gold Phoenix won both the Charles Whittingham (G2) at Santa Anita and the Del Mar Handicap (G2). His biggest win came in 2023 when taking down the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Joining Gold Phoenix in the lineup for D’Amato are stablemates Easter and Divin Propos.
Easter exits a second-place finish in the San Marcos (G3) going 1 1/4 miles Feb. 8 at Santa Anita. He rallied to finish 3 1/4 lengths back of There Goes Harvard, who was not entered back in the San Luis Rey. Bred in France, Easter is a 7-year-old gelding by Exosphere. He is seeking his first win since the San Gabriel (G2) in December 2023.
Owned by Madaket Stable, Easter is 26: 7-5-3 with $681,410 in earnings. He will have regular rider Antonio Fresu aboard.
Divin Propos finished fourth in the San Marcos while never threatening. The 5-year-old gelding by George Vancouver, who was bred in France, is 13: 4-2-3 with $143,918 in earnings. He is seeking his first stakes win. Divin Propos will have Ricky Gonzalez aboard for the first time.
Atitlan, trained by John Shirreffs, finished fifth in the San Marcos after being forwardly placed. Last year, the now 4-year-old colt by The Factor won the Twilight Derby (G2) at Santa Anita and was third in both the Del Mar Derby (G2) and Mathis Mile (G2) at Santa Anita.
Atitlan has a record of 8: 2-0-3 with $240,000 in earnings for owner John O’Connor. He will be ridden by Hector Berrios, who was also aboard in the San Marcos.