The $300,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2), contested over 1 3/8 miles on Del Mar’s Jimmy Durante turf course for three-year-olds and upward, functions as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
This year’s running, the 87th edition of the race, has attracted a field of 11.
The central narrative heading into the summer fixture is Gold Phoenix (5-2), an eight-year-old gelding trained by Phil D’Amato, who is attempting an unprecedented fifth consecutive victory in this event. The multi-millionaire, who finished fifth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup, has produced a strong 2026 campaign with three wins from five starts, including his most recent pair in graded company, capped by a score in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) over this course last month. The Ireland-bred son of Balardo generally races well off the pace, hugging the rail just behind the leaders before unleashing a powerful late surge in the stretch. He excels at this particular distance on this particular course and enters as the horse to beat.
Del Mar Handicap Odds: Test Score Ships West for Graham Motion
Test Score (3-1), a four-year-old Lookin At Lucky colt conditioned by H. Graham Motion, arrives as a high-class shipper boasting Grade 1 victories in the 2025 Belmont Derby and 2026 Pegasus World Cup Turf. He is coming off a disappointing sixth in the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs earlier this month.
He previously finished a troubled third in the 2025 Hollywood Derby over this course and was second in the TAA Stakes here in 2024 as a juvenile. With the 1 3/8-mile trip, jockey Juan Hernandez will aim to avoid traffic and build on those prior efforts. He possesses a versatile turn of foot and can press the pace or rally from off the leaders.
Betting Angles on the Supporting Cast
Atitlan (6-1), a five-year-old trained by Richard Mandella, finished third in this race last year and returned from a nearly year-long layoff with a flat fourth in the Wickerr Stakes here last month. The winner of the 2025 Charles Whittingham (G2) and San Luis Rey Stakes (G3) is a versatile closer capable of sitting mid-pack or settling farther back before mounting a sustained run. His recent works at Del Mar have been sharp, indicating he is nearing full fitness. He merits consideration on the tote board for exotic wagers.
British-bred Mondego (6-1) captured this year’s Whittingham in May and was most recently a flat seventh in the Eddie Read. The six-year-old Lope De Vega gelding, trained by Michael McCarthy, has otherwise been a consistent turf router who often races prominently or just off the pace. He also won the San Marcos Stakes (G2) in February and has placed in several other graded events this season. The 1 3/8-mile distance suits him well, as does jockey Antonio Fresu.
Packs a Wahlop (10-1) produced a strong late run when second in the Charles Whittingham last year and returns to graded company following a series of allowance efforts and an optional claiming victory carrying a $40,000 tag earlier this year. He arrives with a win in hand, though he may require a career-best effort to topple the favorites. The John Sadler trainee typically settles mid-pack and finishes powerfully down the lane.
Nitti (12-1), a five-year-old Ireland-bred Make Believe gelding now in the care of Antonio Garcia, is a pronounced closer who rallied from last to win the 2025 San Juan Capistrano (G3) at 1 ¾ miles in his lone stakes appearance. He has not raced since that effort. He has been training well here and should appreciate the distance, though his primary question mark is how he will perform off the extended break. Victor Espinoza has the mount.
Flashiest (12-1), the eight-year-old trained by Leonard Powell, turned in a respectable fourth in the Belmont Gold Cup (G2) at Saratoga two and a half months ago. While he owns multiple graded stakes placings, he has not won in some time and appears overmatched in this spot. He frequently contests the pace or presses from just off it.
After a fifth in allowance company in his American debut at Santa Anita in June 2025, French import Maaz (15-1) earned a respectable fourth in the listed La Jolla Handicap over this course a year ago. His best career effort came when second in the Twilight Derby (G3) at 1⅛ miles, beaten 1½ lengths by Test Score late last year, before a no-excuse seventh in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, though reports indicated the saddle slipped. In one start since, he was sixth here in allowance company last month. He has never won beyond a mile on turf and has already failed at this exact 1⅜-mile distance last September. His preferred style is to settle mid-pack or farther back and produce a single late run.
California-bred Old Pal (12-1) is another who can race forwardly and become involved in the pace scenario. The Mark Glatt trainee has collected some state-bred stakes success, though this class elevation may prove too much.
Atomic Age (20-1) is a developing four-year-old making his stakes debut. The Justify colt, who has had only a couple of starts per year since his debut two seasons ago, has displayed tactical speed and a strong finish in allowance company. He represents the “other” D’Amato runner, so he cannot be dismissed, particularly in exotic plays.
Santa Barbarian (30-1), a California-bred four-year-old Bodexpress gelding for Ryan Hanson, is a late runner who sprang a 43-1 upset in the 2025 Snow Chief Stakes following his maiden victory. He has shown improvement while stretching out on turf and will attempt to pick up pieces late under Tiago Pereira, though this class jump appears formidable.
Post time is 9:43 p.m. ET.
Selections: 1) Gold Phoenix 2) Test Score 3) Atitlan
The Field for the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2), with jockey, trainer, and odds:
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbarian (CA) | T J Pereira | R Hanson | 30/1 |
| 2 | Test Score (KY) | J J Hernandez | H G Motion | 3/1 |
| 3 | Nitti (IRE) | V Espinoza | A C Garcia | 12/1 |
| 4 | Gold Phoenix (IRE) | H I Berrios | P D’Amato | 5/2 |
| 5 | Atomic Age (KY) | K Kimura | P D’Amato | 20/1 |
| 6 | Maaz (FR) | R Gonzalez | M W McCarthy | 15/1 |
| 7 | Atitlan (KY) | U Rispoli | R E Mandella | 6/1 |
| 8 | Mondego (GB) | A Fresu | M W McCarthy | 6/1 |
| 9 | Old Pal (CA) | J Rosario | M Glatt | 12/1 |
| 10 | Flashiest (KY) | A Ayuso | L Powell | 12/1 |
| 11 | Packs a Wahlop (KY) | E Jaramillo | J W Sadler | 10/1 |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.