Philip D'Amato

An assistant for Mike Mitchell for 11 years, Phil D'Amato took over the barn when Mitchell retired in late 2013. Mitchell died from cancer in 2014.

Since inheriting the barn, D'Amato has won more than 250 races with a pair of Grade 1 winners early in Obviuosly and Street Fancy. Other notable horses trained by D'Amato include Big John B, Midnight Storm, Fanticola and Toowindytohaulrox. Midnight Storm was a Grade 1 winner in 2016 and later that year Obviously won the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint to give D'Amato his first victory in the World Championships.

In 2023-24, Stronghold emerged as a top dirt horse in his class for D’Amato with wins in the Sunland Park Derby and Santa Anita Derby, becoming the trainer’s first Kentucky Derby qualifier.