Gold Phoenix makes history at Del Mar; Formidable Man just that

DEL MAR — There will come a day when Gold Phoenix doesn’t win the Del Mar Handicap.

No, really.

But that day was not Saturday, just like it wasn’t on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend last year … or in 2023 … or in 2022.

For the first time in the 10 decades they’ve been racing at Del Mar, a horse won the same stakes race four consecutive years. Four others had won three but did not try for a four-peat.

Gold Phoenix did — and he was fully extended, but he outfinished Stay Hot, Atitlan and Truly Quality in a four-horse photo at the end of the 13/8-mile race. He returned $6.20 as the 2-1 favorite.

“It was incredible,” trainer Phil D’Amato said in the winner’s circle. “This is what you’re in the business for: to have moments like this.”

The Irish-bred gelding, now 7, was ridden by Flavien Prat, who also was aboard for the initial victory in 2022. Prat, who came here Saturday from New York to ride Nysos in the Pacific Classic, didn’t get to fulfill that commitment when the colt was scratched, but he did win three races.

The $300,000 Del Mar Handicap came with a $180,000 first prize — old hat for Gold Phoenix, who has now earned more than $2 million — and also a berth in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf here Nov. 1. Gold Phoenix has finished 10th, fourth and fourth in that race the last three years, but that’s one streak he’ll try to end.

As for whether he’ll be back to try to defend his four titles again next year, D’Amato said simply, “I sure hope so.”

Another four-peat?

In addition to a possible five-peat by Gold Phoenix, D’Amato might be able to go for another four-peat next year with Motorious, who won the $150,000 Green Flash Handicap for the third straight year.

Another 7-year-old gelding, Motorious actually finished second by a nose behind 18-1 long shot Reef Runner, but the latter gelding was disqualified by the stewards for interfering with Motorious shortly after the start of the 5-furlong turf race.

“If that had not happened at the start he would have won by two (lengths),” winning jockey Antonio Fresu said of the 9-5 favorite, who returned $5.60.

Motorious, who is 4-for-5 on the Del Mar turf with the only loss coming by a neck in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, earned an automatic spot in that Nov. 1 race.

Formidable, indeed

Another horse thrilled with Del Mar hosting the Breeders’ Cup is Formidable Man. The 4-year-old made it six wins in six starts on the turf course here with a 1½-length victory in the $300,000 Del Mar Mile.

“He seems to like it here,” said winning trainer Michael McCarthy in the understatement of the summer.

McCarthy, who also trained Formidable Man’s sire, 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light, will decide in the coming weeks whether the colt starts again before the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The competition will be stiffer, but

Formidable Man has met every test so far on the Del Mar grass.

“He has a different kick here than Santa Anita,” winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said.

Formidable Man, who paid $4.80 as the 7-5 favorite, became a millionaire with the win, pushing his career earnings over the $1.16 million mark. Almendares edged pacesetter Cabo Spirit for second.

Cal-bred score

Om N Joy, who had built a nice résumé racing almost exclusively against fellow Cal-bred fillies, handled a step up in class by winning the $150,000 Torrey Pines Stakes over a field that included Tenma, last year’s Del Mar Debutante champ.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for trainer Aggie Ordonez, Om N Joy ($10) rallied from next to last to win by a half-length over the 26-1 long shot So There She Was. Tenma, the 7-10 favorite, was third.

In her only other start against open company, Om N Joy finished last in the Oak Leaf Stakes last year at Santa Anita.