Gold Phoenix Heads D’Amato Quartet in John Henry Turf

Whereas Bob Baffert could rule the grime tracks in Southern California, Phil D’Amato is arguably the West Coast king of the turf. One should look no additional than the coach’s quartet of robust runners within the Santa Anita Park‘s John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) Sept. 28 to see the conditioner’s turf prowess within the entry field.

Heading D’Amato’s formidable foursome is John Henry highweight Gold Phoenix . The gelding who failed to satisfy his reserve when he introduced a last bid of $26,314 as a yearling has now earned over $1.5 million on the monitor for Little Pink Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify. A graded stakes winner from one mile to 1 3/8 miles, the 6-year-old gelding enters Saturday’s $750,000 1 1/4-mile contest for older horses off a gusty late operating victory over reopposing Dicey Mo Chara  and stablemate Balnikhov  within the Aug. 31 Del Mar Handicap (G2T).

By profitable his third consecutive Del Mar Handicap, the Belardo  gelding secured his slot within the beginning gate for this November’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T), a race he has competed in twice earlier than in 2022 and 2023 (ending tenth and fourth). The Del Mar was the second graded win this 12 months for Gold Phoenix, who had captured the Charlie Whittingham Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita in Could. Kyle Frey, aboard for each of these wins, takes the reins.

Chief among the many deep closers gunning at Gold Phoenix late can be his barn mate, Balnikhov. The 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding additionally runs for the Little Pink Feather Racing partnership, although he’s co-owned by Madaket Stables and Outdated Bones Secure. Primarily seen as a miler kind in his time within the U.S., the son of Adaay  has developed right into a strong two-turn performer for D’Amato. He answered questions on his distance limitations with a fast-finishing slender third-place end within the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar final outing. Three begins again, Balnikhov roared to a convincing 1 1/2-length victory within the Dinner Occasion Stakes (G3T) on Preakness Day Could 18 touring 1 1/8-miles.

D’Amato may also saddle Divin Propos , a two-time allowance winner, in his North American stakes debut, in addition to 8-year-old Rockemperor . Previously educated by Chad Brown, Rockemperor has failed to search out the shape that carried him to scores within the 2021 Joe Hirsch Turf Basic (G1T) and 2022 Bowling Inexperienced Stakes (G2T). The millionaire gelding has run some encouraging velocity figures since relocating to D’Amato’s California secure nevertheless, ending an in depth second within the San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) and fourth within the Del Mar Handicap.

Other than the D’Amato quartet, Rick Dutrow’s Grasp Piece  will try and regain his former graded glory after failing to hit the board in his final two outings. A two-time graded stakes winner in New York, he light to complete fifth within the Del Mar after urgent the early tempo.