Santa Anita roundup: Irish-breds win Kilroe Mile, Buena Vista

With Phil D’Amato saddling 4 of 8 starters in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, it was his red hot, Irish-bred Hong Kong Harry who commanded most of the attention. He was dispatched as the even-money favorite.

However, it was another one of his three Irish-breds, Gold Phoenix, who got the money. He saved ground to the top of the lane and roared home on top under Japan-born Kizushi Kimura to win by a neck while getting one mile on turf in 1:34.45.

Breaking from the no. 1 post, Gold Phoenix hugged the rail throughout and split horses four deep at the sixteenth pole with a dramatic late move that ensured victory.

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Well beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland going 1 1/2 miles Nov. 5, Gold Phoenix was off Saturday at 10-1 and paid $23.60, $9.60 and $6.40.

A 5-year-old gelding owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify, Gold Phoenix was ridden for the first time Saturday by Kimura. He had won the Del Mar Handicap (G2) three starts back Sept. 3 and notched his first Grade 1 victory Sunday.

As for Kimura, 23, who was the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey in 2019, the Kilroe marked his first Santa Anita Grade 1 victory.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, Du Jour, who was last early, rallied for the place, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Cabo Spirit. Off at 10-1, Du Jour paid $10.00 and $7.00.

Cabo Spirit, who lacked room heading to the far turn, ran a big race at 37-1 and paid $14.20 to show under Joe Bravo.

Early fractions for the Kilroe were 23.08, 47.06, 1:10.55 and 1:22.24.

Quattroelle scores in Buena Vista

Under patient handling from Hector Berrios, Irish-bred Quattroelle surged late to take Saturday’s Buena Vista Stakes (G2) by a half-length. Trained by Jeff Mullins, Quattroelle got one mile over turf listed as good in 1:35.74.

Unhurried behind a pedestrian pace set by Kitty Kitana to the far turn, the complexion of Buena Vista changed suddenly when Kitty Kitana, with Flavien Prat up, stopped three furlongs from home, enabling longshot Tik Tok Famous to get first run on the field around the far turn.

Fifth, about three lengths off the lead at the quarter pole, Quattroelle lengthened her stride. School Dance made a brief lead and was joined to her outside by Nadette, who was unable to hold off eventual runner-up Macadamia at the rail. Quattroelle rallied five deep to get up in time.

A winner of the Megahertz (G3) at one mile on the Santa Anita turf Feb. 4, Quattroelle went off as the 3-1 second choice and paid $8.60, $4.40 and $3.00. A 5-year-old Irish-bred mare, Quattroelle notched her second graded-stakes win and her third overall.

Owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, she picked up $120,000 for the win, boosting her earnings to $412,772 from an overall mark of 15: 5-3-4.

Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Brazilian-bred Macadamia finished one length in front of Closing Remarks and paid $4.60 and $3.00 after going off at 7-2.

California-bred Closing Remarks, off at 6-1 with Joe Bravo, rallied well from far back and paid $3.40.

Fractions for the race were 23.32, 47.96, 1:12.42 and 1:24.11.