Gold Phoenix is likely favorite in San Juan Capistrano

Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Gold Phoenix figures to be a heavy favorite Sunday in the Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes going about 1 3/4 miles on turf, the featured race on closing day of the Santa Anita spring meet.

An 8-year-old gelding with 32 starts and $2,377,087 in earnings, Gold Phoenix is now in his fifth season based at Santa Anita with trainer Phil D’Amato. This will be is first time testing the marathon San Juan Capistrano.

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Gold Phoenix collected his ninth graded-stakes win when winning the San Luis Rey (G3) at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in March. Subsequently shipped to Churchill Downs, the Irish-bred son of Belardo tried the Turf Classic (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard and was never a factor when finishing seventh on May 2.

Gold Phoenix is owned by Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify. D’Amato is seeking his fourth win in the San Juan Capistrano after winning three straight from 2019 to 2021. Jockey Hector Berrios rode Gold Phoenix in his two most recent starts and again has the call.

American Hope steps up to the stakes ranks for trainer Brian Koriner after a second-level allowance win going 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 1 at Santa Anita. It was his second start at Santa Anita after previously being based with trainer Brad Cox in the Midwest. A 5-year-old horse by American Pharoah, American Hope is owned by Ferro Family Trust, Bruno DeBerdt and Evan Trommer. Jockey Armando Ayuso, who is tied for leading rider at the Hollywood Meet, will ride American Hope.

Living Life comes in for trainer Ron Ellis off a dominant 2 1/4-length allowance win going 1 1/4 miles on May 22 at Santa Anita. A 6-year-old ridgling by Flatter, Living Life made his stakes debut in the San Luis Rey won by Gold Phoenix. His chances were compromised that day after being bothered by a rival leaving the gate and then getting caught in traffic in the stretch. Living Life, who is owned by Albert and Kathleen Mattivi, will be ridden by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario for the first time.