Trainer Phil D'Amato is the dominant force in California turf racing and as such, he will have multiple live shots in Monday's two Grade 1 grass races.
In the Shoemaker Mile (G1), D'Amato has three of the 11 starters, including Hong Kong Harry, 7-2 morning-line favorite. D'Amato's other Shoemaker starters are Gold Phoenix (4-1) and Balnikhov (5-1), both multiple graded stakes winners.
Two races earlier in the Gamely (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on turf, D'Amato will saddle recent Wilshire (G3) winner Macadamia.
“Hopefully we can have a nice day,” said D'Amato, who leads all trainers at the current Hollywood Meet in both total wins and stakes wins.
Hong Kong Harry will be wheeling back 23 days after a trip to Churchill Downs where he ran second in the Turf Classic (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 6. The 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Es Que Love will break from post two under top rider Flavien Prat.
Hong Kong Harry has worked once since the Turf Classic, a four-furlong move in :48.60 at Santa Anita May 22.
“Ideally you'd like to have an extra week or two,” D'Amato said of the relatively quick turnaround. “But he came out of the race in good shape and he had a nice little drill for us. This is a distance he seems to excel at.”
Prior to the Turf Classic, Hong Kong Harry was fourth in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile(G1) behind winner Gold Phoenix, Du Jour, and Cabo Spirit, all of whom return in the Shoemaker.
Gold Phoenix followed his win in the Kilroe with a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Charles S. Whittingham (G2) on April 8. The 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Belardo will have Kazushi Kimura in the irons, who was also aboard in both the Kilroe and Whittingham.
As for Gold Phoenix disappointing as the favorite in the Whittingham, D'Amato noted his horse was compromised when a rival slipped and fell at the top of the stretch. The chart notes he was “floated, bumped into the stretch”.
“That day the turf was a little funky,” D'Amato said. “Everyone was slipping and sliding. I give him the benefit of the doubt. He got bumped at the top of the lane when that horse slipped and it took a while to get back into gear.
“But he's come back to train well and I'm expecting a big effort.”
Balnikhov never threatened when seventh in the Kilroe, but came back in the an Francisco Mile (G3) at Golden Gate April 29 and finished with a flourish to win by a nose. Umberto Rispoli, who was aboard for both the Kilroe and San Francisco Mile, again has the call on Monday.
“In the Kilroe we had him up close to the pace and he doesn't like that,” D'Amato said. “He likes to just come up with his big late run. In the San Francisco Mile we just anchored him and he came with his run. We're going to do the same thing this time. Whether it's a slow pace or fast pace, he's going to be sitting back and come with his run.”
In the Gamely for fillies and mare, Macadamia will try and continue her ascent in the California female turf division. Macadamia cleared her second-level allowance condition here Feb. 3 and came back to be beaten just a half-length in the Buena Vista (G2) before winning the Wilshire, both of which were at a mile.
Macadamia is a 5-year-old Brazilian-bred mare by Hat Trick. The hot-riding Tiago Pereira will be aboard for the fourth time on Monday.
“She's a Southern Hemisphere horse and I think it took her a little bit longer to acclimate, to mature and be able to compete in her division. I think that's where the progression has come,” D'Amato said. “But I also give a lot of credit to Tiago Pereira. I think he's helped in developing her. He breezes her every week and has really gotten the most out of her.”
The Shoemaker Mile goes as the seventh race on Monday's 10-race card. Post time is scheduled for 4:13 p.m. (PT). The Gamely goes as the fifth race at approximately 3:12 p.m.
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