One of the constants of Del Mar's annual summer meeting has easily been the Del Mar Handicap. It started in 1937, the year the track opened, and has been part of the stakes schedule every racing season.

It has also seen more than one local legend enter its list of winners. Ligaroti, who famously squared off against Seabiscuit in a match race at Del Mar in 1938, won the Del Mar Handicap that same year. Native Diver took the race in what turned out to be his final start in 1967. Fellow Cal-bred Quicken Tree followed one year later, as did Ancient Title in 1977. This carried on into the 1980s, when Precisionist walked out of Del Mar as the race's 1984 victor.

There are also some Thoroughbreds who have managed to to win multiple runnings of the Del Mar Handicap: Frankly (1948, 1950), Arrogate (1955, 1956), How Now (1957, 1960), Navarone (1992, 1994), Spring House (2008, 2009), and Big John B (2013, 2014) were the first six to do so. For several years, they were the only members of the club, crafted over generations.

Then Gold Phoenix came knocking.

An Irish-bred chestnut, Gold Phoenix won first time out at Dundalk in Ireland in what was his only start in Europe. Debuting at Santa Anita for trainer Phil D'Amato in January 2022, Gold Phoenix did well after nearly a year on the bench, finishing second in a six and one-half furlong allowance on the turf. The good results piled up from there, as Gold Phoenix never finished worse than third in his next five starts between Santa Anita and Del Mar's turf courses while picking up a win at the former's grass course while going one mile.

By late summer, it was clear that Gold Phoenix enjoyed routing. Following his first two North American outings, both of which were sprints, Gold Phoenix moved to races at a mile or longer. Following a third against allowance optional claimers early in the Del Mar meet, Gold Phoenix was set to the Grade II Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles. Three races before that, Gold Phoenix had finished third in the Grade II Charles Whittingham at a mile and one-quarter at Santa Anita. He ran well to close in on the winner, and the way he finished that race suggested that a longer distance might work for him.

Many liked Gold Phoenix's chances in the Del Mar Handicap. Sent off as the 7-2 second choice, Gold Phoenix and jockey Flavien Prat ran at the back early on. But they began picking up ground in the backstretch while dealing with a slow pace. Once he straightened in the stretch, Gold Phoenix was on the extreme outside with several opponents still ahead of him. But a rally came next, and Gold Phoenix moved strongly down the outside to take down one rival after another. He timed the last jumps well, as he got to the wire just ahead of Master Piece to capture his first graded stakes win following a determined stretch run.

One year later, Gold Phoenix was back by the beach to defend his title. He had already visited the winners' circle at Del Mar earlier in the meet, beating foes in the Grade II Eddie Read a few weeks earlier. Obviously a fan of the Del Mar turf, Gold Phoenix had the confidence of the bettors in the Del Mar Handicap as he was made the post time favorite at 5-2.

The start of the 2023 Del Mar Handicap was not unlike the previous year's renewal. Gold Phoenix and Juan Hernandez had some horses behind them in the opening moments, but they were still well behind the pacesetters. The field was initially strung out, but was fairly close in the far turn. Gold Phoenix was still among the backmarkers, and he again saw multiple rivals in front. But he was not nearly as wide this time.

Then a hole opened up. Gold Phoenix and Hernandez went through it, and the defending champion again closed powerfully in the last part of the race. There was no photo finish in front of the Del Mar crowd; Gold Phoenix was the clear winner as he became the seventh horse to collect two Del Mar Handicaps. The question now was whether the gelding would return for a try at a third one in 2024.

On August 31, 2024, Gold Phoenix indeed returned to the starting gate for the Del Mar Handicap. He had repeated the same summer schedule from the year before, competing in the Eddie Read again. The title defense for that race was not successful, as Gold Phoenix came in seventh. But bettors were not fazed in the Del Mar Handicap, for Gold Phoenix was made the favorite at 2-1.

Facing only five rivals, Gold Phoenix and Kyle Frey were not in the back to start this edition of the race. Securing the inside, the duo found themselves well within striking distance of the leader by the time they began the final lap. As the glacial fractions flashed on the tote board, Gold Phoenix stayed close to the pacesetter, traveling nicely down the backstretch. The field was bunched together going into the far turn, and Gold Phoenix was not facing a wide trip like he had the previous two seasons. He was still saving ground on the inside. But he also needed an opening to go for the lead.

As the leader, Dicey Mo Chara, turned into the stretch, he moved a little wide. The rail path was now completely cleared. Gold Phoenix and Frey took it, and they soon caught Master Piece, who was on Dicey Mo Chara's outside. In the last few seconds, the Irish-bred found that closing kick that had been on display the last two years. With an amazing rush on the inside, Gold Phoenix got up to take an unprecedented third Del Mar Handicap by a neck and ensure his place as a legend of the seaside track.

During those three years, Gold Phoenix overcame slow fractions and wide trips in the stretch to conquer one of Del Mar's charter races. Each performance is indicative of his talent, his stamina, and his determination. He battled in every one of those races between 2022 and 2024, and he earned every one of those winner's photos.

And as a result, Gold Phoenix now stands alone in the history of the Del Mar Handicap.