By Jim Charvat

Trainer Phil D’Amato has won the last four training titles at Del Mar, beginning with the Fall Meet in 2021. He followed up with another title run in the summer of 2022, though he had to share the crown with Bob Baffert. D’Amato then took the trainers race in the fall of 2022 and the just-concluded summer meet.

D’Amato’s success is not limited to Del Mar. He won both training titles at Santa Anita this winter and spring before losing to Mark Glatt by one race in the autumn trainers race.

Judging by the show of force D’Amato brought down with him to Del Mar, it would be no surprise if he extends his winning streak this fall.

“What’s not to like about Del Mar,” D’Amato says. “It’s a quasi-working vacation and everyone enjoys it including the horses.”

D’Amato brought 60 horses with him including last year’s G2 Seabiscuit winner, in town to defend his crown.

“Hong Kong Harry in the Seabiscuit,” D’Amato says. “I have a new horse, Easter, who won a stakes race at Santa Anita for Graham Motion. They left the horse with me and he’ll also go in the Seabiscuit. And possibly Balnikhov, too.

Balnikhov was the 2022 Oceanside Stakes winner and runner-up to stablemate Gold Phoenix in last summer’s G2 Eddie Read.

As for his Breeders’ Cup horses, D’Amato says they’re getting some well deserved time off.

“I have Desert Dawn down here but she’s just on a working vacation. There’s no race for her here unless I want to try her on grass. Most of them I have given breaks, so it’s a lot of new recruits down here.”

D’Amato had six horses in the Breeders’ Cup: Tony Ann, Motorious and Beer Can Man in the Turf Sprint; Gold Phoenix in the Turf and Masteroffoxhounds in the Mile. Desert Dawn ran in the Distaff.

Despite all the success and accolades, Phil D’Amato remains well centered with an eye on improving.

“I think with any good horseman we’re learning every day,” D’Amato says. “Just knowing your horse, knowing what they like to do. It’s always an evolving process. And this game evolves as well so you have to be in touch and in tune with the racing nuances, the ebbs and flows of horseracing, as well as training horses. But I think with hard work and determination, good horses and really good help, all of those things lead you in the right direction.”