Santa Anita: Gold Phoenix romps in San Juan Capistrano

Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Gold Phoenix was just too good for his outclassed rivals on Sunday when rolling to a dominant five-length victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes going about 1 3/4 miles on turf Sunday at Santa Anita.

Now in his fifth season with trainer Phil D’Amato at Santa Anita, the venerable Gold Phoenix was running for the first time in the historic San Juan Capistrano. The marathon distance of the race proved to be no problem for the 8-year-old Ireland-bred gelding by Belardo.

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With jockey Hector Berrios aboard, Gold Phoenix (2-5) settled in second-to-last position for the opening mile as Grogu (25-1) and jockey Cesar Belmont ushered the field through fractions of 47.41, 1:11.50 and 1:38.05. Down the backstretch, Gold Phoenix began his move towards the front. He easily passed horses while on the outside and in the clear, collared new leader Goldeneye (14-1) at the top of the stretch and drew off before being geared down at the finish. Goldeneye finished second under Edwin Maldonado and American Hope, the 5-1 second choice, finished third with Armando Ayuso in the irons.

“He was the most talented horse,” Berrios said of his winning mount. “He broke perfect. I knew it was a long race and he felt comfortable. On the backstretch, he starting passing horses really nicely. Then going into the stretch, I put him on the outside and he quickened. I looked at the (infield video board) and saw the other horses were maybe five lengths back. I just sat and let him go easy to the finish.”

This was the third time winning the San Juan Capistrano for Berrios, a 39-year-old native of Chile. He also won it in 2023 and 2024 with Planetario for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

Gold Phoenix won in a time of 2:44.76. It was the fastest San Juan since 2010 when Bourbon Bay, trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, won in a time of 2:44.52.

”I just loved the move he was making around the three-eighths pole,” D’Amato said. “It looked like he was just kind of inhaling them. I felt really good by the time he got to the top of the lane. He looked like he was just in a gallop. Ultra impressive.”

For D’Amato, this was his fourth time winning the San Juan Capistrano. He previously won three consecutive from 2019-2021 starting with Acclimate, followed by Red King and then with Acclimate again in 2021.

“This was one of my favorite races watching as a kid,” said D’Amato, 50, who was born and raised in San Pedro on the Pacific coast in Los Angeles County. “It means a lot to me to win this race, especially with this horse.

“This is such a beautiful race. It’s so unique. There’s not one like it. It should keep its prestige. Hopefully Gold Phoenix winning helps with that.”

Gold Phoenix is owned by Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify. He improved to 33: 12-3-5 with $2,437,087.

“I think it is hard to put into words,” Little Red Feather’s Billy Koch said of Gold Phoenix’s latest accomplishment. “Everyone just loves him and he is so kind around the barn. I can’t tell you how many retirement facilities have called me up saying they want him when he’s done. But who knows when that might be because it sure didn’t look like it today. He has been a very special horse.”

Gold Phoenix paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Goldeneye, trained by Peter Eurton, returned $7.80 and $5.40. American Hope, trained by Brian Koriner, paid $2.60.