Gold Phoenix lands record sixth Del Mar stakes in Eddie Read

The elder statesman of the California turf division, Gold Phoenix, made history on Sunday. Rallying to prevail in an Eddie Read (G2) thriller, the Phil D’Amato veteran established a new Del Mar record by capturing his sixth stakes at the seaside track.

Defending Eddie Read champion Formidable Man, the 7-10 favorite, figured to be the one rewriting the record book. He likewise entered with five local stakes victories on his resume, and the 1 1/8-mile distance suited him better than Gold Phoenix at this stage of his career. 

Now eight years old, Gold Phoenix has needed longer trips to bring out his best in recent years. Indeed, the Irish import was shortening up after his romp in the 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano (G3) at Santa Anita. The Eddie Read was his tune-up for yet another title defense in the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar H. (G2), which Gold Phoenix has won a record four times. 

Yet the grand old campaigner found the fountain of youth, and a sharp turn of foot, in Sunday’s $251,500 renewal of the Eddie Read. Leveraging an inside path, Gold Phoenix edged front-running Cabo Spirit and Formidable Man in a three-way photo. 

Amazingly, Gold Phoenix was winning the Eddie Read for the second time, three years after his first title in 2023. That too is an unprecedented achievement, for the past two-time Eddie Read winners all scored in consecutive years – Wickerr (1981-82), Fastness (1995-96), Special Ring (2003-04), Acclamation (2011-12), and United (2020-21).

With his four Del Mar ‘Caps and two Eddie Read trophies, the Belardo gelding surpassed the former record of five Del Mar stakes. According to the track’s media guide, the old mark was set by How Now (1950s), joined by Admirably (1960s), Hall of Famer Flawlessly (1990s), and in the past decade or so, by Midnight Storm and Formidable Man.

Gold Phoenix’s rider, Hector Berrios, deserves an assist for his ground-saving trip on Sunday. Conversely, Formidable Man had to swing outside as the 125-pound highweight, and those factors arguably told late. 

Cabo Spirit inadvertently helped Gold Phoenix’s cause by a costly drift down the lane. Last year’s Eddie Read runner-up, Cabo Spirit once again was in pole position as the controlling speed. He had the race in his grasp after splits of :24.73, :48.96, and 1:12.86 on the firm turf, but turning into the stretch, he wandered out. 

As Cabo Spirit’s starboard list became pronounced in the final furlong, he wound up detached in the center of the course. That opened the door for the closers.

Gold Phoenix, who had been biding his time at the rear, speared through between rivals. Formidable Man, under a ride on the far turn already, shifted in a bit to get away from the wayward Cabo Spirit, and thereby found himself rallying alongside Gold Phoenix.

Although Cabo Spirit was still trying to hang on, the geometry was against him once he came off a true line. Formidable Man wasn’t doing quite enough to get past, but Gold Phoenix was finding all the way to the line.

The camera revealed that Gold Phoenix nipped Cabo Spirit by a nose, with Formidable Man another head away in third. Clocking 1:47.73, Gold Phoenix returned $11.40 as the 4.70-1 second choice. 

The top three crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths clear of Stay Hot, who collared the stalking Seal Team for fourth. Next came Almendares, Mondego, and Mi Hermano Ramon. Astronomer was scratched.

“Coming out of the chute, I got put in tight, and my horse stumbled,” Berrios said. “But he picked himself up, and we did fine from there. We were all the way in the back for most of the trip, but I was saving ground. I had room near the fence turning for home, then we found room between horses and it was ‘vamanos!’ He did it.”

 “They were going so slow,” D’Amato said, “I was thinking at first this is just our planned prep for the Del Mar Handicap. We’ll come running late, and we’ll be set up for that race. Then at the top of the lane I thought maybe we’ll run third and get a piece. But when Formidable Man and him hooked up, I could just see it in his eyes he just wasn’t going to let that horse pass him, and I think Formidable Man helped him get to the wire first.”

A legend for his ownership group comprising Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify, Gold Phoenix has compiled a record of 34-13-3-5 with a bankroll totaling $2,587,042. His lengthy resume includes five stakes scores at Santa Anita, including the 2023 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1), 2024 Charles Whittingham (G2), 2025 John Henry Turf Championship (G2), and this season’s San Luis Rey (G3) and San Juan Capistrano. 

Perhaps even more significant than his trio of stakes placings are Gold Phoenix’s efforts in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), where he was fourth in both 2023 and 2024 and fifth in 2025. The past two years at Del Mar, he has delivered the best result by a North American-based runner. 

Gold Phoenix was bred by Mighty Universe in Ireland. The chestnut is out of the Juddmonte-bred Mizzen Mast mare Magnifica, a full sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Giant Treasure (originally named Sea Defence) as well as multiple Grade 2 scorer Jibboom. Herself a noted producer, Jibboom has foaled graded/Group vixens Accede and Flying Jib. 

Gold Phoenix has entered the rarefied air of trying to top himself. If he can snare a fifth Del Mar ‘Cap on Aug. 29, he would pad his record to seven stakes wins where the surf meets the turf.