Phil D'Amato

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Slick and Eternal Reign at Santa Anita. Slick As Can Be Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify's Slick (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) claimed a Santa Anita maiden victory on Dec. 26 (video). Trained by Phil D'Amato, the 2-year-old filly was bred by Newtown Anner Stud in Ireland. Out of the Dubawi (Ire) mare Shurooq (GB), Slick was sold for €48,000...

Fresh off a second-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Anthony Fanticola's Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) captured Saturday's GII Joe Hernandez Stakes down the hill at Santa Anita. After bobbling slightly out of the gate, Motorious settled kindly midpack behind a :21.71 and :43.78 pace set by 60-1 Code Duello (Honor Code). Extremely wide after crossing the dirt, he stayed on his wrong lead for several beats before hooking up with two-back Lure Stakes winner Sumter (War Front) in the lane. Sumter was slightly quicker as the two...

Tied no more. After weeks of sharing the top of the leaderboard, Flavien Prat surpassed Jerry Bailey Thursday to become the new record holder for most graded stakes wins in a single season. His landmark 56th came in the GII Mathis Mile Stakes aboard King of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), a 3-year-old imported from Ireland late last year to the barn of Phillip D'Amato. A well-seasoned runner over 2024, Thursday's 3-5 favorite came in in plenty good form with only one off-the-board finish from eight starts since hitting American soil...

For the second year in a row, jockey Juan Hernandez has won both the summer and fall riding titles at Del Mar. However, unlike past title runs, he had to rally from behind late in the season to win the Bing Crosby Season title with 21 wins. Hernandez trailed both Antonio Fresu and Umberto Rispoli through much of the fall. But he got hot in the second-to-last week, winning five races and grabbing the lead. He then secured the title with another eight victories in the final week including five...

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. This week's rulings include three lengthy suspensions. Trainer Francisco Ramos has been banned for two years and fined $25,000 after his trainee You're a Dandy (Mizzen Mast) who finished second at Hawthorne Feb. 14, tested positive for the bronchodilator Clenbuterol. According to a final decision by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), Ramos apparently requested a B sample analysis but did not pay for it, which meant...

According to a posting on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) website, top California trainer Phil D'Amato has had a horse test positive for the banned substance methamphetamine. The 4-year-old filly Thebestisyettobe (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) tested positive following an Aug. 1 workout at Los Alamitos. Before HIWU/HISA made changes to its rules regarding its Anti-Doping Medication and Control program, D'Amato would have been facing a suspension of up two years. Over time and in the face of criticism that it was charging trainers who had horses test positive for...

DEL MAR, California--In Saturday's GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar, the Europeans come to town riding a five-year win streak having taken the hardware and the bragging rights with thanks. Yet, lest we forget that this is horse racing on the turf and that means even the most deserving favorites can be vulnerable. To put it in sports betting terms, the Filly & Mare Turf could be deemed what we call a 'trap game' in the business. That means a seemingly stronger opponent underestimates...

A bevy of horses pre-entered in next weekend's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar worked Saturday at Santa Anita. Out in force were horses trained by Bob Baffert and Phil D'Amato, who combined pre-entered 18 horses to the 41st Breeders' Cup. D'Amato worked all eight of his Breeders' Cup pre-entrants. One Magic Philly (Good Magic) (Filly & Mare Sprint), winner of the GIII Chillingworth Stakes last out, and Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) (Juvenile Fillies), second in the GI Del Mar Debutante, worked in company. One Magic Philly was clocked...

Winless in two starts though he is, Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (Into Mischief) will have his fair share of backers from the outside stall in a field of 10 in Sunday's GIII Street Sense Stakes on opening day of the fall meet at Churchill Downs. A maternal grandson of GSW & GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic runner-up Mushka (Empire Maker), Sovereignty debuted as an 11-1 chance in the Travers Day maiden Aug. 24 won by 'TDN Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas (Volatile). Last of the 10-strong field after the opening quarter-mile,...

Che Evasora (Arg) (Greenspring), who earned an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with her win in the May 1 G1 Gran Premio Criadores, returned to the work tab Saturday at Santa Anita, going four furlongs in :50.60 (61/79) Saturday in Arcadia. The 6-year-old mare remains under consideration for championship weekend despite being eased while making her U.S. debut in the GII Zenyatta Stakes Sept. 29. "She went good. It was her first breeze back and I just wanted to give her something easy," said trainer Phil D'Amato....

Thought Process turned over a new leaf since switching to a mile on the grass and the Madaket Stables, Little Red Feather Racing and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones runner underscored the point with an emphatic victory in Sunday's GIII Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita. Breaking sharply, the 1-5 favorite soon went to the front, leading the way through a :23.17 quarter mile. Still moving confidently through a :47.69 half, the chestnut cut the corner with authority, drew clear down the lane and crossed the wire an eye-catching...

Trainer Phil D'Amato reported One Magic Philly (Good Magic) and Hang the Moon (Uncle Mo) were doing well after their graded stakes victories Saturday at Santa Anita and both fillies are under consideration for Breeders' Cup engagements. Hang the Moon earned a fees-paid berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf with her upset win in Saturday's GII Rodeo Drive Stakes. "She paid her way [to the Breeders' Cup]. If she continues to train well, that's where we'll go," D'Amato said Sunday morning. One Magic Philly won her...