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.