One way or another, trainer Phil D'Amato looked likely to have the winner in the $501,500 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) March 4 at Santa Anita Park since he saddled half of the eight starters.
But when the speed melted down at midstretch, D'Amato needed his longest shot in the field, Gold Phoenix, to save the day.
With Kazushi Kimura up, Gold Phoenix broke cleanly from the inside gate and quickly took back toward the rear of the compact field. There, he saved ground while Air Force Red went to the lead through early splits of :23.05 and :47.06 with Cabo Spirit in pursuit.
Nearing the turn, two of D'Amato's better-regarded runners, heavy favorite Hong Kong Harry and Masteroffoxhounds, joined the fray. That group spread across the course while losing some steam swinging into the stretch.
Frankie Dettori got Du Jour, a rare turf runner from the Bob Baffert barn, flying up on the outside to quickly reach contention. But Kimura took the shorter route, splitting rivals cleanly to get home first by a neck. Du Jour was second, Cabo Spirit third, and Hong Kong Harry fourth.
The mile on firm turf was clocked in 1:34.45.
Gold Phoenix, a 5-year-old gelding by Belardo out of the Mizzen Mast mare Magnifica, made one start in Ireland in 2021, winning a maiden event on the Dundalk Stadium all-weather course before being sent across the waters.
He managed two wins, three thirds, and three seconds from nine starts for D'Amato in 2022, missing the frame only when he finished 10th in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland in November. The Kilroe Mile was his 2023 debut.
D'Amato said before the race he hoped all of his runners could move forward from their seasonal debuts with November's Breeders' Cup World Championships scheduled in his backyard at Santa Anita.
Billy Koch—founder of Little Red Feather Racing, a partnership that owns Gold Phoenix with Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify-- Marshaleading the Gold Phoenix ownership team—echoed that thought in the winner's circle.
"You know, this horse—ESP. That's what we call him. He showed up today. This is a prep, but Phil and his team did an amazing job and congrats to all the partners.
"Winning a grade 1 is special," Koch added.
"I remember this race when we ran with Singletary, and we lost. We got beat a nose by Sweet Return. And I've always wanted to win this race, for all these people. They put so much time and money and effort into the game. It's just an amazing feeling. This is why we do what we do."
Singletary did finish second in the 2004 Kilroe Mile by half-length to Sweet Return. He returned for the 2005 edition and finished seventh, beaten five lengths as Leroidesanimaux led from gate to wire.
D'Amato's other runners in the Kilroe, Hong Kong Harry, Masteroffoxhounds, and Balnikhov reported fourth, sixth, and seventh, respectively.
That showing for Hong Kong Harry was the worst in his seven starts out of D'Amato's barn and his first loss in his last three races. He wound up 2022 with victories in the Del Mar Mile (G2T) and the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T).
Irideo was a late scratch from the Kilroe.
Gold Phoenix returned $23.60 from a $2 win ticket.
Video: Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. (G1T)
Earlier on the card, Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's Quattroelle registered her second consecutive graded stakes victory with a late-running effort in the $201,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) for older fillies and mares on the turf.
Trained by Jeff Mullins, the 5-year-old daughter of Mehmas—Heavenly River, by Stormy River scored by a half-length over Macademia and Closing Remarks. Under jockey Hector Berrios, Quattroelle ($8.60) raced the mile in 1:35.74.
Favored Kitty Kitana led for the first half-mile before being pulled by Flavien Prat. She walked off following the race.
