Phil D'Amato Stable Tour

Phil D’Amato has become a force on the Southern California circuit since taking over the stable from his former boss Mike Mitchell just over a decade ago. While he has won dozens of graded stakes, D’Amato is just 1 for 32 at the Breeders’ Cup, the victory coming with Obviously in the 2016 Turf Sprint. He has eight runners at Del Mar in 2024, live on Sky Sports Racing.

VODKA WITH A TWIST (Netjets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, 22.25 Friday)

Following a maiden victory in her second start, this daughter of Thousand Words was purchased privately by several partners and turned over to D’Amato. In three starts for him, she won the Debutante at Churchill Downs and finished second in the Grade 3 Sorrento before getting beat a nose in the Del Mar Debutante.

Since he ran her twice at the summer at Del Mar, D’Amato passed the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita and decided to bring the filly in fresh.

“I wanted to give her a little extra time to get her back and regroup and get her ready for the Breeders’ Cup,” D’Amato said.

D’Amato was encouraged by the filly’s last workout for the race which was done with the three-year-old filly One Magic Philly, who is in the Filly & Mare Sprint.

“Judging by the way she breezed with an older horse and the gallop out she gave … she doesn’t give us any indication that she shouldn’t like an extra furlong from her last race,” D’Amato said.

THOUGHT PROCESS (John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, 23.05 Friday)

This daughter of Collected has gone three for three since being moved to the turf including two wins at Del Mar and the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita.

“She’s been petty dominating over here,” D’Amato said. “I think she has an extra gear to give should she need to give it, she hasn’t yet. I think she’s done everything so easy. I’m looking forward to running her. We’re going to run against the best in the world, we’ll see how she fits but I think she’s a definite fit.”

IRON MAN CAL (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, 00.25 Saturday)

Son of Collected won his maiden at Del mar by 2 1-2 lengths before finishing second, but being elevated to first in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach at Santa Anita. Iron Man Cal was making a run at the leader, Aristas when that horse came out and bumped him near the wire.

“It was pretty obvious he had every chance of being put up, even the rider of the horse they took down told me had he not tried to do that, my horse was going to go past him,” D’Amato said. “I think he’s done enough and he has enough ability to compete in a race like this.”

ONE MAGIC PHILLY (PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, 19.00 Saturday)

This three-year-old daughter of Good Magic has reeled of three consecutive wins including a maiden and an allowance at Del Mar. She passed her stakes debut by winning the Grade 3 Chillingworth on October 5 by 2 3-4 lengths. Connections had been contemplating running in the Bayakoa Stakes, at 1 1-16 miles on the same card, but opted for the Breeders’ Cup.

“She’s doing really well and we would have been fine at either distance,” D’Amato said. “She had a really nice breeze (at Santa Anita on October 26), the jockey was very happy with her.”

MOTORIOUS (Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, 19.41, Saturday)

This late-running six-year-old gelding by Muhaarar finished fifth, beaten just 1 1-2 lengths in this race last year at Santa Anita. He is three for three at Del Mar, each race coming at the five-furlong distance of the Turf Sprint.

“He does like that Del Mar strip going five eighths, coming with that late run,” D’Amato said. “We’ll have to see if it’s enough to catch those sprinters that are in there.”

CHE EVASORA (Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, 20.21 Saturday)

This Argentine-bred mare earned an automatic berth into the Distaff by virtue of her win in the Group 1 Criadores at Hipodromo in Argentina in May. 

She ran once for D’Amato, finishing last of five in the Grade 2 Zenyatta. D’Amato said she was too close to the pace that day but will be ridden differently in the Breeders’ Cup.

“We’re going to let her fall out of the gate and come running late,” D’Amato said.

GOLD PHOENIX (Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, 21.01 Saturday)

This six-year-old Irish-bred gelding will be making his third straight appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He finished tenth at Keeneland in 2022 and fourth, beaten 2 1-2 lengths at 51-1 at Santa Anita last year.

Gold Phoenix has won three consecutive runnings of the Del Mar Handicap at 1 3-8 miles and is four for six at Del Mar overall.

D’Amato said Gold Phoenix’s fifth-place finish in the John Henry at Santa Anita was to be expected since that race was run at 1 1-4 miles.

“He did the same thing in his prep for the Breeders’ Cup last year and he ran huge in the Breeders’ Cup,” D’Amato said. “Following the same pattern. He breezed great, he’s going to get the distance he wants and he loves it down at Del Mar.”

HANG THE MOON (Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, 22.25 Saturday)

This four-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo has won two straight, coming with late runs to win the John Mabee going 1 1-8 miles at Del Mar in September and the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive going 1 1-4 miles at Santa Anita in October.

“We know she likes that track there and she’ll come with that late run,” D’Amato said. “I think an extra eighth of a mile is only going to help her as well.”