Gold Phoenix could make it a record four consecutive wins in the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) in this year's version, set for Aug. 30 at Del Mar. The 1 3/8-mile turf race is carded as the 11th, right after Journalism takes on Nysos and Fierceness in the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), so Gold Phoenix may not get the attention he deserves should he get the job done.
At least plenty of people will head to the winner's circle. Little Red Feather Racing owns Gold Phoenix with Agave Racing Stable, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify, and the Little Red Feather group knows how to celebrate.
Gold Phoenix has the credentials and certainly hails from the right barn. Trainer Phil D'Amato has won nine of the last 11 editions of the Del Mar Handicap. He sometimes has used the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) earlier in the meeting as a springboard to the Del Mar Handicap and was poised to do so again with Gold Phoenix. D'Amato ended up scratching Gold Phoenix from the July 27 Read because of a minor problem, instead running him in an Aug. 9 allowance optional claiming race, where Gold Phoenix finished third.
"He needed a prep to get him into the Del Mar Handicap, and that's what we got," D'Amato said after the race.
Gold Phoenix receives a rider switch to Flavien Prat, who last rode him to an unplaced effort in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). Prat successfully partnered Gold Phoenix in the gelding's first Del Mar Handicap win, in 2022.
D'Amato has also entered Balnikhov and City Exile for the race. Balnikhov finished fourth in the Read to Formidable Man, who goes in the Saturday's Del Mar Mile Stakes (G2T). City Exile is making only his second stakes attempt in this country, having run fifth in the Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T). Most recently, City Exile finished second in an Aug. 15 allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar.
John Sadler-trained Final Boss, who won the Aug. 9 race against Gold Phoenix, gets the services of leading Del Mar jockey Juan Hernandez in the Del Mar Handicap. The 4-year-old son of American Pharoah has competed in six stakes, winning the 2024 Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita.
John Velazquez, who comes to Del Mar to ride Fierceness in the Pacific Classic, will pilot Endlessly for trainer Michael McCarthy, also the conditioner of Journalism. Endlessly, a graded stakes winner, competed in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1), where his finished ninth in his lone dirt start. His best effort in 2025 has been a third in the April 20 American Stakes (G3T).
The other six in the field include San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) winner Nitti, two-time 2025 graded winner Atitlan, 2024 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) winner Truly Quality, and Eddie Read third Stay Hot.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 30, 2025, Race 11Entries: Del Mar H. Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Balnikhov (IRE) Antonio Fresu 119 Philip D'Amato 12/1 2 2Adios Cole (FL) Ricardo Gonzalez 117 Sam Wilensky 30/1 3 3Nitti (IRE) Armando Ayuso 120 Leonard Powell 12/1 4 4Stay Hot (KY) Mike E. Smith 121 Peter Eurton 5/1 5 5Atitlan (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 123 John A. Shirreffs 5/1 6 6Mondego (GB) Kazushi Kimura 119 Michael W. McCarthy 20/1 7 7Truly Quality (KY) Umberto Rispoli 122 Jonathan Thomas 6/1 8 8Final Boss (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 120 John W. Sadler 4/1 9 9Endlessly (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 Michael W. McCarthy 12/1 10 10City Exile (GB) Paco Lopez 117 Philip D'Amato 20/1 11 11Gold Phoenix (IRE) Flavien Prat 123 Philip D'Amato 3/1
