Veteran campaigner Gold Phoenix proved that experience still counts at Del Mar Racecourse on Sunday, producing a determined late surge to capture the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes and write his name into the track’s record books. The eight-year-old Irish-bred gelding edged home by a nose after a dramatic finish over nine furlongs on the turf, securing the 13th victory of his accomplished career.
Eddie Read Stakes Results
Ridden by Hector I. Berrios and trained by Phil D’Amato, Gold Phoenix settled near the rear of the field through the early stages before producing his customary finishing run in the straight. Finding racing room in the closing furlong, the chestnut gelding wore down the leaders in the final strides to deny Cabo Spirit in a thrilling finish.
The narrow success earned Gold Phoenix the $150,000 winner’s prize, lifting his career earnings to $2,587,087. More significantly, it marked his sixth stakes victory on the Del Mar turf, establishing a new record for the most stakes wins on the course. The achievement moved him clear of the previous benchmark shared by five horses with five Del Mar stakes victories.
Cabo Spirit finished a close second, while race favourite Formidable Man was another nose and a head away in third after all three runners flashed past the winning post in a blanket finish. The official time for the 53rd running of the Eddie Read Stakes was 1:47.73.
Gold Phoenix Eddie Read Stakes victory further strengthened the veteran’s remarkable record at Del Mar, where the turf specialist has repeatedly produced some of the finest performances of his career. Sunday’s success also gave Berrios his first stakes winner of the current Del Mar meeting and his second career triumph in the Eddie Read Stakes after partnering Gold Phoenix to victory in 2023.
For trainer Phil D’Amato, the win continued an outstanding association with the race. It represented his fifth Eddie Read Stakes success and his 76th winner at Del Mar, adding another notable milestone to his record at the Southern California venue.
Owned by a partnership led by Agave Racing Stable and Little Red Feather Racing, Gold Phoenix is now expected to continue his Del Mar campaign with a return in the Del Mar Handicap over a mile and three-eighths on turf on August 29. Following another powerful finishing effort, the veteran will bid to add yet another prestigious victory to his already distinguished résumé.
The Eddie Read Stakes result underlined Gold Phoenix’s enduring class and consistency, with the seasoned gelding once again showing that he remains among the leading turf performers at Del Mar despite advancing years.
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