Del Mar hat tricks for Gold Phoenix, trainer Phil D’Amato

DEL MAR – A member of the large party entering the winner’s circle after Saturday’s Del Mar Handicap held up three fingers on her right hand, and as the day progressed her gesture wound up having multiple meanings.

At the time, she was signifying Gold Phoenix had won the Grade II race for the third straight year, joining an exclusive club at Del Mar.

Only four other horses in the track’s nine-decade history have pulled off a three-peat in graded stakes races — a list that features Hall of Famers Native Diver...