Iron Man Cal, Test Score capture BC WAYIs at Del Mar

Best known as a turf campaigner, Iron Man Cal earned his spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) line-up by wiring Saturday’s $252,500 Pat O’Brien (G2) at Del Mar. 

His trainer Phil D’Amato and co-owner Little Red Feather Racing hoped to hit a “Win and You’re In” double with history-making favorite Gold Phoenix in the $303,000 Del Mar H. (G2). But the four-time Del Mar ‘Cap champion was dethroned by Graham Motion’s shipper Test Score, who booked his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Gold Phoenix wasn’t beaten far in fourth.  

Both Test Score and Iron Man Cal are out of mares by champion turf horse and terrific sire Kitten’s Joy, underscoring his wide-ranging influence.

Pat O’Brien (G2)

Third to now-retired Journalism in his dirt debut in the San Diego H. (G2), Iron Man Cal shortened up successfully in the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien. The Collected gelding hadn’t raced in a sprint since finishing fourth in his unveiling at two, and he was facing a few divisional specialists. His rivals included California-bred celebrity Big City Lights, the 7-2 favorite, as well as the top two from last year’s Pat O’Brien, Dr. Venkman and Stronghold.

But Iron Man Cal, with new rider Joel Rosario aboard, looked like a natural in his front-running display. Even losing a shoe in the paddock and getting reshod didn’t faze the classy four-year-old named after Major League Baseball great Cal Ripken.

Dispatched at a generous 8.20-1 ($18.40), Iron Man Cal worked his way to the front through an opening quarter in :22.51. The bay was still just a half-length ahead of March of Time, with Jimmy’s Dailys and Stronghold in close pursuit, at the half in :45.11. 

Iron Man Cal began to get away from the stalkers swinging for home, and he established enough of a cushion in midstretch to hold on from Moonlight in the final yards. A half-length safely on top at the wire, Iron Man Cal finished in 1:22.02.

The rallying Moonlight likewise had a half-length to spare from Big City Lights, who made headway on the rail. Stronghold checked in fourth, trailed by March of Time, Dr. Venkman, slow-starting Vodka Vodka, Gold Sweep, Jimmy’s Dailys, and Bartholdy.

Campaigned by Little Red Feather in partnership with Madaket Stables, Iron Man Cal was winning his first stakes since his juvenile days. He was awarded the 2024 Zuma Beach (G3) via disqualification, but validated his class when missing by a neck to Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). His abbreviated sophomore campaign ended after his brutal-trip second in Del Mar’s Oceanside S. 

On the comeback trail this term, Iron Man Cal regained the winning thread third off the layoff in a Santa Anita turf allowance. He was training so well on the main track that D’Amato tried him in the San Diego, where he was embroiled in a tough pace scenario. In the circumstances, Iron Man Cal passed the test with his third-place effort. He confirmed his dirt ability here, advancing his scorecard to 11-4-2-1, $543,125,

Bred by the late Gov. Brereton C. Jones in Kentucky, Iron Man Cal sold for $130,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. His dam, the Kitten’s Joy mare Joyful Dreams, is a half-sister to graded stakes victors Dreamy Kid and Kid Dreams. 

Del Mar H. (G2)

Amerman Racing’s homebred Test Score had gone close in his past visits to Del Mar, including a traffic-marred third in last fall’s Hollywood Derby (G1). 

That loss still rankles jockey Juan Hernandez, who made the most of the opportunity to ride him again here. Test Score’s regular pilot back East, Manny Franco, was otherwise engaged winning the Travers (G1) aboard Leading Change. 

Gold Phoenix was the one to beat, not only as the winner of the past four Del Mar ‘Caps, but also coming off his victory in the Eddie Read (G2). By prevailing in his ostensible prep race, the venerable eight-year-old set a record by winning his sixth Del Mar stakes. Gold Phoenix ranked as the 1.10-1 favorite to rewrite the record book again.

Test Score, the clear second choice at 2.60-1 ($7.20), capitalized on better early positioning and a straightforward stretch rally. While Gold Phoenix was unhurried near the rear, Test Score found his ground-saving perch about midpack. 

Up front, a rank Packs a Wahlop was not content to attend pacesetter Old Pal. After Old Pal got the opening quarter in :24.18, Packs a Wahlop took over and carved out splits of :48.26, 1:13.31, and 1:38.16 on the firm turf. But he was no longer packing much of a punch in the homestretch, and the stage was set for the cavalry charge.

Test Score shifted paths on the final turn to probe for a seam. When Mondego made his bid for glory, the way opened for Test Score to slice through, and wider out, Atitlan and Atomic Age were bursting into contention. Gold Phoenix muscled through on the inside, briefly threatening to reprise his Eddie Read. Yet he could not quite outkick them all.

In deep stretch, Test Score withstood the stiffest challenge from Atitlan by a neck, completing 1 3/8 miles in 2:14.76. 

“He’s a little horse that will not give up,” Motion’s assistant, Alice Clapham, said. “He’ll fight. He’s a true racehorse. I was a little worried around the bend when he had a lot of horses around him, because when he gets going you don’t want him to get stopped. But once he got clear and changed his lead, he just kept going.”

Another half-length away in third was Atomic Age, Gold Phoenix’s 24-1 stablemate, who headed him on the line. Gold Phoenix nipped the opponent nearest to him, Mondego, for fourth. 

“He could have gotten a little bit cleaner trip,” D’Amato said of Gold Phoenix, “but that’s grass racing. They really walked the dog early, and when that happens, everybody’s charging late, and he (jockey Hector Berrios) took a chance to go up in there. It got a little tight, but once he got through, he battled, and we just got outrun.”

Nitti, Maazz, Flashiest, Santa Barbarian, Packs a Wahlop, and Old Pal rounded out the order of finish. 

Test Score’s report card stands at 17-6-4-3 with earnings of $2,405,025. Hero of last year’s Belmont Derby (G1), Twilight Derby (G2), and Transylvania (G3), he added the Jan. 24 Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park. 

His first stakes placing came at Del Mar – a tough beat in the 2024 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S. – on the same Breeders’ Cup Friday where Iron Man Cal came so close in the Juvenile Turf. The son of Lookin at Lucky also collected minor awards in the 2025 American Turf (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day, the Saratoga Derby (G1), the Kitten’s Joy S., and the June 6 Manhattan (G1) at Saratoga. He was coming off a sixth in the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs. 

Kentucky-bred Test Score is out of Joy of Learning, a Kitten’s Joy half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire Coffee Clique and multiple Grade 3 victor Admission Office.