Although the Santa Anita Park winter/spring meet is not yet complete—closing day is June 19—trainer Phil D'Amato is already assured of a record-breaking meet for victories.
The trainer set a Santa Anita record by winning his 57th race June 17 when Carpe Vinum rallied for a 2 1/4-length victory in the $72,000 allowance feature, the seventh race. The victory enabled the San Pedro, Calif., native to surpass the previous mark of 56 wins established by trainer Doug O'Neill in 2006-07. D'Amato went on to ring up numbers 58, 59, 60, and 61 with subsequent starters—the latter score coming with Cathkin Peak in the eighth race Saturday.
"It's a great feeling," said D'Amato, who further led all trainers in stakes wins heading into closing weekend with 15 added-money scores. "I wasn't expecting it or counting the wins, but it's just a testament to all my people.
"A total team effort, from my assistants, exercise riders and grooms on down, and most importantly, my owners and the kinds of horses they're giving me to be able to do this."
He could add to his total with more runners on Sunday. No trainer is within reach of catching him.
D'Amato, 46, has been training for a little more than a decade. Last year his stable earned more than $7.46 million, a yearly high for the trainer.
