Gold Phoenix and Hector Berrios win the 2026 Eddie Read © Benoit Photo
Certain horses need certain riders to get the best out of them. Change riders and you might get an entirely different horse. But then there are those horses that no matter what you put up in the saddle, they perform every time.
Gold Phoenix is one of those horses. He’s running for history again this weekend in the G2 Del Mar Handicap on Saturday. Not to take anything away from the riders who have succeeded on the 8-year-old gelding in the past, but in his 34-race career Gold Phoenix has carried five different jockeys and he’s won with every one of them. He’s won the Del Mar ‘Cap four times with three different riders. Flavien Prat twice, Juan Hernandez and Kyle Frey.
When he breaks from the gate Saturday he’ll have Hector I. Berrios in the irons. Berrios is no stranger to Gold Phoenix. He’s ridden the Irish-bred’s last four races and won three of them: The G3 San Luis Rey at Santa Anita in March, the G3 San Juan Capistrano in June and the G2 Eddie Read last out at Del Mar.
“This horse is very smart,” Berrios says. “He doesn’t pull strong in the race. Very professional.”
Despite the historical significance of Saturday’s race, Berrios feels no extra pressure.
“I try to stay relaxed,” Berrios explains. “I just try to make everything easy. I feel good for him because horses can sense when you’re uptight.”
When Gold Phoenix won the Eddie Read last month, the two rallied up the rail and snatched the victory at the wire. Berrios says they’ll use the same tactic if the opportunity presents itself.
“Wherever he (Gold Phoenix) feels comfortable,” Berrios states. “I’ll try the inside at first, then I’ll either stay there or move to the outside because I need to see how the race unfolds. That allows me to make my decisions and where I can find room to send him.”
Last year’s Del Mar Handicap victory for Gold Phoenix came in a four-horse blanket finish. Berrios had a perfect view riding the third-place finisher Atitlan, who was a head behind Stay Hot who was a neck behind Gold Phoenix. This year, Berrios is hoping he’ll be the one first on the wire.
“Each race is special,” Berrios notes, “but winning this race with Gold Phoenix on Saturday would make the history books.”