2023 John Henry Preview | Gold Phoenix Goes For 3rd Straight Win In Possible Turf Prep At Santa Anita

Trainer Phil D’Amato’s Gold Phoenix tops Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita as he seeks his third consecutive graded stakes victory.

Named for the two-time Horse of the Year and seven-time overall Eclipse Award winning Hall of Fame gelding, the John Henry has attracted a field of eight three-year-olds and up at a mile and one quarter.

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Although seventh in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile on turf here May 29, Gold Phoenix, a 5-year-old gelding, has been nothing short of brilliant in his last two starts, rallying to take the Grade II Eddie Read Stakes at a mile and one eighth on turf by three quarters of a length July 30 and the Grade II Del Mar Handicap at a mile and three eighths on grass by 1 ¼ lengths Sept. 2.

A close third in last year’s John Henry, Gold Phoenix, who is owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Marsha Naify, surpassed the $1 million mark in earnings on Sept. 2.

The Irish-bred son of Belardo will hope to be rolling late under Juan Hernandez in what will be his 16^th career start and 15^th with D’Amato.

D’Amato will also send out the venerable Masteroffoxhounds, who showed the way in the Eddie Read on July 30 when finishing third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by his stablemate, Gold Phoenix.

Winless in four starts this year, the 6-year-old full horse by War Front’s last win came seven starts back in last year’s John Henry here at Santa Anita.

Owned by Rockingham Ranch, Masteroffoxhounds is a two-time graded stakes winner over the course and will be ridden back by Edwin Maldonado.