Gold Phoenix
Antonio Fresu, Phil D'Amato and Reddam Racing were the leading jockey, trainer and owner, respectively, at the just-concluded Santa Anita Hollywood meeting at the Arcadia oval. A native of Sardinia, the 34-year-old Fresu booted home 33 winners from 183 rides (18%), narrowly besting Armando Ayuso on 31 wins. Fresu, who shifted his tack to Santa Anita in December 2023, missed the first five weeks of 2026 with a left foot injury suffered on opening day of the season Dec. 28. "The year didn't start like we wanted to, so this...
Trainer Aggie Ordonez had a glittering prognosis for Om N Joy (Om) the day after her upset victory in the GII Santa Margarita Stakes where she collected a second graded win, and added that her stable star will now point to the GI Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar. "She's wonderful." Short and sweet, but words all connections want to hear. Ordonez reported the filly was no worse for wear Sunday morning, and that she would have an 'easy 30 days' of training before focus shifted to Del Mar. The...
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Darya at Santa Anita. Persian King Filly Crowned In Arcadia Darya (Persian King) steamed home a 2 3/4-length winner at Santa Anita in late March (video). Raced by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify, the three-year-old filly was bred Emir Alkas. A 40,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, she failed to meet her reserve when passed in for 20,000 out of...
Stop us if you've heard this before: a seven-figure son of Gun Runner from the barn of Chad Brown has been sent to New Orleans to make his sophomore debut in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes. Two years ago it was Sierra Leone who made the trip up from South Florida off a narrow defeat in the GII Remsen Stakes in the second of his two juvenile appearances. With Tyler Gafflione at the controls, the lanky colt took full advantage of the long straight in the Big Easy to...
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Silawi at Woodbine. Dubawi Gelding Claims The Canadian International Wathnan Racing's Silawi (Dubawi) earned his first top-tier win in the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine on October 4 (video). Bred by Wertheimer and Frere, he is trained by Hamad Al Jehani. Sold for €380,000 out of the Arqana Arc Sale in 2023, the five-year-old gelding is also a winner of the G3 Winter Hill...
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Wimbledon Hawkeye at Kentucky Downs. Kameko Colt Hits The Target In Kentucky The consistent Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko) made his first American foray a winning one when scooping a $1 million-plus payday at Kentucky Downs in the GIII Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes on August 30 (video). Bred by owners the Gredley family's Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs, the James Owen trainee had won...
The effort that goes into winning one race--at any level--is tremendous. Winning the same graded race four years in a row? That's the stuff of Hollywood. And yet veteran Gold Phoenix (Ire) (g, 8, Belardo {Ire}--Magnifica, by Mizzen Mast) showed once again why he is the GII Del Mar Handicap's leading man Saturday, winning for the fourth consecutive year and earning a 'Win and You're In' berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf over this course Nov. 1. GSW Stay Hot (Summer Front) finished second, while MGSW Atitlan (The Factor)...
When 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) went wire-to-wire to take out the 2023 GI Pacific Classic, it made trainer Bob Baffert the winningest trainer in the relatively short history of the event with seven winners, surpassing the late Bobby Frankel. The Hall of Fame conditioner will have every chance to extend that record when he sends out fellow 'Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in a compelling renewal of the 10-furlong feature Saturday afternoon, with an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic over the same course and distance...
Impressive Dundalk maiden winner The Padre (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) has been sold to continue his career in California, where he will be trained by Phil D'Amato. Bred by John Halley, The Padre created a big impression on his first and only start for his son Josh last month, winning a 1m2f maiden by almost three lengths under Wayne Lordan. "We did think a bit of him before we came here and he was probably the best out of my two-year-olds last year," Josh told Irishracing.com after that debut victory. "He...
Che Evasora (Arg) (Greenspring), who earned an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with her win in the May 1 G1 Gran Premio Criadores, returned to the work tab Saturday at Santa Anita, going four furlongs in :50.60 (61/79) Saturday in Arcadia. The 6-year-old mare remains under consideration for championship weekend despite being eased while making her U.S. debut in the GII Zenyatta Stakes Sept. 29. "She went good. It was her first breeze back and I just wanted to give her something easy," said trainer Phil D'Amato....
Just a quarter hour after Idea Generation (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) lulled the GII Flower Bowl Stakes field to sleep at Saratoga, Dicey Mo Chara (GB) (Adaay {Ire}) tried the same tactics on the other coast in the GII Del Mar Handicap, but didn't have the same head of steam afforded the Saratoga winner and found a late dogfight instead. Favored Gold Phoenix (Ire) (g, 6, Belardo {Ire}--Magnifica, by Mizzen Mast) "loves to fight," according to rider Kyle Frey, and kicked it into high gear late to run down the pacesetter,...
It doesn't take long for the Kentucky Downs meeting to hit full gear, as Saturday's program features three graded contests, including the GIII DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes, with prize money that could reach $3.1 million. The purse remains intact should one of the 10 Kentucky-breds--eight in the main body of the field and two also-eligibles--is home first over the mile and five-sixteenths journey along the Kentucky/Tennessee border. The four foreign raiders are ineligible for the KTDF money, but the base purse of $2.5 million already makes it one...