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Gold Phoenix Adds Another Stakes Victory to Phil D’Amato’s Growing Del Mar Record
July 26, 2026 — Gold Phoenix, the oldest and most professional veteran in the field of eight, came from last on the backstretch to run down the pacesetting runner-up Cabo Spirit and hold safe favored Formidable Man, the defending champ, to come out on top of a nose-head photo in 1:47.73 for the distance.
In so doing, the 8-year-old Irish-bred son of Belardo recorded a record sixth stakes victory at Del Mar, which includes the last four runnings of the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) and a considerably less dramatic score in the 2023 Eddie Read.
At least, it was less dramatic for Phil D’Amato, who watched the younger Gold Phoenix lead three of his stablemates under the wire that day in a 1-2-3-4 sweep for the trainer.
Thought Process Rolls to the Front to Take G1 Gamely
May 26, 2026 — Thought Process became a newly minted Grade I winner Monday at Santa Anita when rolling to a comfortable 2 ¾-length victory as the favorite in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Thought Process is trained by Phil D’Amato for owners Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stables. The late Brereton C. Jones, former governor of Kentucky, bred the 4-year-old filly by Collected. For D’Amato, this was his second time winning the Gamely. He also won it in 2023 with Macadamia. “I thought we were in a really good position and I could see she was nice and comfortable,” D’Amato said. “I could see the horse on the lead (Rashmi) was also going very easy. When Hector asked her in the stretch, she responded and opened up. It was a hand ride from there.”
D’Amato Clinches Trainers Title
Oct 27, 2025 — Phil D’Amato clinched the Santa Anita autumn season trainers title while Juan Hernandez added a flourish to his jockeys title by completing a sweep of the track’s three stakes closing weekend.
D’Amato won once Sunday to finish with 13 victories, two more than Bob Baffert. It’s D’Amato’s eighth title at a Santa Anita meet, going back to 2016, but his first in a fall season.
— Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige