Grade 1 winner Gold Phoenix returns to the Santa Anita Park turf for his 6-year-old debut against nine competitors in the $100,000 American Stakes (G3T) going one mile April 4.
Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify’s Gold Phoenix saw his best year on the track in 2023 as he won the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita and a pair of grade 2s at Del Mar. The Belardo gelding finished his season with a respectable fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) last November.
Video: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T)
“He had a pretty active campaign last year and we gave him some time to rest after the Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Phil D’Amato said before adding that he wanted to bring him back at the one-mile distance for his first start in five months. “Hopefully, we can find the right path to get him back to the Breeders’ Cup.”
D’Amato also saddles Michael House’s Prince Abama , who won the 2023 San Marcos Stakes (G3T) last February by a neck.
Cuyathy’s Johannes has been off for 11 months following a fifth, beaten 2 lengths, in Churchill Downs‘ American Turf Stakes (G2T) May 5. The loss ended a three-race win streak earned over the Santa Anita turf that included two stakes.
The American Stakes is race 9 with post time of 5 p.m. PT.
Entries: American S. (G3T)
Santa Anita Park, Thursday, April 04, 2024, Race 9
- Grade IIIT
- 1m
- Turf
- $100,000
- 4 yo’s & up
- 5:00 PM (local)
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