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 , an 8-year-old gelded son of Belardo , 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 in 2022-25 of the Del Mar Handicap (G2T). 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 the last three years.

A brilliant late kick by Mondego  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   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 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 been off the board 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-place finish 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 about 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.