Gold Phoenix Becomes First Grade One Winner for Belardo
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Gold Phoenix lands the Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita Park
Bearstone Stud resident Belardo saw last year's Del Mar Handicap (G2) winner Gold Phoenix (IRE) graduate to top-level honors when capturing the Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park March 4 for trainer Philip D'Amato.
What a trif! #1 GOLD PHOENIX ($23.60) wins the $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) over #7 Du Jour and #2 Cabo Spirit, with favored Hong Kong Harry fourth. The trifecta paid $939.55 for 50 cents!@lrfracing owns, @PhilDamato11 trains, and @kazushi0096 was in the irons. pic.twitter.com/CCA80Ld7U1
— TVG (@TVG) March 5, 2023
Gold Phoenix is one of 17 black-type performers for the son of Lope De Vega , including six individual group or graded winners and two listed scorers.
Belardo, himself the winner of the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at 2 and the Lockinge Stakes (G3) at 4 for Roger Varian, had started his stud career at Darley's Kildangan Stud, being introduced at a fee of €15,000. He made the switch to Bearstone in November last year and stands this term for £6,500 ($US7,787). Some of his other most notable progeny include grade or group 2 winners Bellabel and Isabella Giles .
Gold Phoenix was bred in Ireland by Mighty Universe and is out of the winning Mizzen Mast mare Magnifica—a full sister to Stewards' Cup (G1) winner Giant Treasure and Raven Run Stakes (G2) victress Jibboom . The gelding went unsold at €24,000 (US$26,314) when offered by Milltown Stud at the 2019 Goffs Sportsman's Sale.
He made one start in Ireland in 2021, winning a maiden contest at Dundalk for Kieran Cotter before being transferred to D'Amato in early 2022. The 5-year-old has an overall career record of four wins in 11 starts and earnings of $675,257.
Gold Phoenix is owned by Little Red Feather Racing in partnership with Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify.