Gold Phoenix, Hector Berrios go the distance at Santa Anita

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Gold Phoenix and jockey Hector Berrios swept into contention on the turn for home and passed front-running Flashiest and Armando Ayuso to score the 8-year-old gelding's first victory of 2026 in the Grade III San Luis Rey Stakes on the Santa Anita turf Saturday. It was the ninth graded stakes win but first in a race as long as 1-1/2 miles for Phil D'Amato-trained Gold Phoenix, who paid $8.40 as 8-5 favorite. Truly Quality and Antonio Fresu finished fourth behind third-place Mondego.

Why it matters

Gold Phoenix's win in the San Luis Rey Stakes, a prestigious Grade III event at 1-1/2 miles, marks a significant achievement for the 8-year-old gelding and his trainer Phil D'Amato. Winning at this distance for the first time showcases Gold Phoenix's versatility and ability to compete at the highest level of thoroughbred racing.

The details

Berrios rode Gold Phoenix for the first time while Kazushi Kimura was out of town. Earlier at Santa Anita, the consistent 5-year-old mare Grand Slam Smile scored a front-running win with jockey William Antongeorgi in the Irish O'Brien Stakes hillside sprint for California-breds. At the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, inexperienced Emerging Market and Flavien Prat outfought trainer Doug O'Neill's seasoned Cal-bred Pavlovian and Edwin Maldonado in the 1-3/16-mile Louisiana Derby, both earning enough points to qualify for the May 2 Kentucky Derby. At Turfway Park in Kentucky, Fulleffort and Irad Ortiz Jr. ran away with the 1-1/8-mile Jeff Ruby Steaks, while Michael McCarthy's Stark Contrast earned Derby consideration by finishing second with Kimura, and Richard Mandella's Medici was third with Mirco Demuro.

• On Saturday, March 21, 2026, the Grade III San Luis Rey Stakes was held at Santa Anita Park.