Gold Phoenix Aims to Regain Graded Form in San Luis Rey

The top three finishers of the San Marcos Stakes (G3T) return to test each other again going a quarter-mile farther in the March 21 San Luis Rey Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. None of them is the morning-line favorite. Gold Phoenix (IRE), an 8-year-old gelded son of Belardo (IRE), is the early 7-5 favorite in the San Luis Rey, which is run at 1 1/2 miles and starts on Santa Anita's hillside turf course. He was the even-money favorite in the San Marcos but ran three wide throughout the 1 1/4-mile race and then never responded when given running room at the top of the stretch. A win at 1 1/2 miles has eluded Gold Phoenix after five tries at the distance but he owns four grade 2 wins going 1 3/8 miles, having captured consecutive editions of the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) in 2022-25. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Gold Phoenix has won at least one graded stakes each year from 2022 through 2025, and at least two each of the last three years. A brilliant late kick by Mondego (GB) delivered a win in the San Marcos, but this first win in a graded stakes for the 6-year-old gelding by Lope de Vega (IRE) left him at 6-1 in the morning line against other more seasoned graded stakes winners. Among those challengers with a deeper résumé is George Strawbridge Jr.'s homebred Truly Quality, a 6-year-old gelding by Quality Road. Truly Quality ran a close third in the San Marcos, just missing the second place by a head to Flashiest. In Strawbridge's Augustin Stables colors, Truly Quality has won three graded stakes that include a second consecutive win in the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar last November. Flashiest has not won a stakes since 2021, though he has four runner-up finishes in graded stakes to his credit since then. Maybe the San Marcos will be the 8-year-old Mizzen Mast gelding's springboard to his first graded win. Irish Eyes May be Smiling Grand Slam Smile is a formidable competitor in the Irish O'Brien Stakes turf sprint on the March 21 card, having never missed a win or placed finish in 18 career starts. The 5-year-old mare by Smiling Tiger is a homebred for Larry and Marianne Williams and the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint. Grand Slam Smile comes into the race off a third Feb. 28 in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) going a mile at Santa Anita. Prior to the Buena Vista, however, she won back-to-back stakes in the 7-furlong Betty Grable Stakes on the dirt and then in the 6 1/2-furlong Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes. In the Irish O'Brien, Grand Slam Smile will face again Reddam Racing homebred Take Another Card and Prancingthruparis, a homebred for Ciaglia Racing, SAF Racing, and Harry Crusberg. They finished second and third, respectively, against the morning-line favorite in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint.