Betting With, and Against, Gold Phoenix in the San Marcos Stakes

The eight-year-old #9 Gold Phoenix (9-5) is the morning-line choice for Saturday’s $100,000 San Marcos (G3) at Santa Anita. The $2.3 million earner has been among the top turf stayers in California for the last few seasons and will make his first appearance since coming home a respectable fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1. 

Gold Phoenix – With

• $5 superfecta 9 with 4 with 5,6,7 with 5,6,7 ($30)
• $2 superfecta 9 with 5,6,7 with 4 with 5,6,7 ($12)

Gold Phoenix – Against

• $30 win #4 Truly Quality ($30)
• 50-cent superfecta key 4 with 5,6,7,9 ($12)

Trained by Phil D’Amato, the son of Belardo was a dual Grade 2 victor in 2025, which includes a score in the John Henry (G2) at 10 furlongs on this course, and the gelding has proven to be capable of running off the layoff on multiple occasions in the past, too. He is a four-time winner at Santa Anita and possesses arguably the best closing kick in the field. I like the outside draw to ensure that the chestnut endures a clear voyage under the guidance of Kaz Kimura. 

Multiple Grade 2 victor #4 Truly Quality (3-1) could be the main threat to the favorite for conditioner Jonathan Thomas, who has two in the field. The six-year-old son of Quality Road has yet to regain the peak form that he was in during his 2024 campaign, but he is still a classy sort who wouldn’t be a surprise second time off the layoff. The gelded homebred has a hint of positional speed in a race void of pace and will get first run on the favorite turning for home with Mike Smith accepting the mount.

#5 Mondego (8-1) finished off his 2025 campaign with a quartet of decent runs in graded stakes tilts and has some appeal to me at a price for the gimmicks. The Lope de Vega six-year-old was an even fourth in the John Henry on the oval in September, and any improvement off of that showing will have him in a good spot late with Jaramillo in the saddle. 

Thomas’ #6 Twirling Point (15-1) has shown some early interest in the past, and if Antonio Fresu sends him from the break, then the five-year-old could be the early leader in the feature. The Twirling Candy gelding is worth including at a square number. Peter Eurton’s consistently good #7 Stay Hot (7-2) has been first or second in six of eight lifetime runs at Santa Anita and has to be included in the vertical plays beneath Juan Hernandez.