Dynasties in horse racing always look invincible until they hit a wall. Gold Phoenix walked into the Del Mar turf course chasing history with four consecutive wins in the Del Mar Handicap under his belt, but Graham Motion's East Coast invader Test Score had other plans.
If you followed the build-up to this Grade 2 showdown, you knew the narrative was all about the status quo. Phil D'Amato's stable star was heavily favored to secure a historic five-peat. Instead, Juan Hernandez guided Test Score through a tactical masterclass at 3/1 odds, stopping the clock at 2:14.76 for the 1 3/8 miles and punching an automatic ticket to the Breeders' Cup Turf. Meanwhile, you can find related developments here: Why High School Flag Football Results Are Changing Friday Nights Forever.
The Pace That Shaped the Race
Tactics dictate turf marathons, and this one started out like a slow Sunday stroll. The early fractions felt more like a morning warm-up than a premier handicap. Everyone was watching and waiting, which means the closers needed a heavy dose of racing luck when the sprint home finally kicked in.
Trainer Phil D'Amato pointed out the obvious reality of the early setup after the race. They walked the dog early. When the front-end slows down to a crawl, the stretch turns into a chaotic traffic jam. To see the bigger picture, check out the detailed report by ESPN.
Hector Berrios tried to thread Gold Phoenix through a narrow opening near the rail as they approached the sixteenth pole. For a fleeting second, the magic looked real. The crowd roared. The four-time champion squeezed through a tightening gap and dug deep.
Why Test Score Got a Passing Grade
Test Score didn't come to California for a vacation. Motion ships west selectively, and when his horses cross the country, they usually mean business. Test Score already proved his mettle earlier in the season by taking the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Still, stretching out to 11 furlongs against West Coast specialists raised valid questions about his stamina.
He answered those doubts with grit. Rallied under Juan Hernandez, the Kentucky-bred son of Lookin at Lucky fought off traffic around the far turn, found clear runway, changed leads, and refused to let Gold Phoenix past.
Alice Clapham, assistant to Graham Motion, noted the horse's tenacity in tight quarters. He is a true racehorse who simply will not quit when the pressure mounts.
The Breeders' Cup Implication
Winning a race like this is great for the resume, but the real prize is what comes next. Thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, Test Score secures an all-expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland.
Navigating elite grass races requires versatility, and Test Score has now checked the distance box against top-tier competition. While Gold Phoenix fans can take pride in a courageous defense that fell just a neck short, the turf division's hierarchy has officially shifted.
Watch how these two handle their next preps. If Test Score brings that same East Coast tenacity to the championships, the rest of the handicap division is in trouble.
