Phil D’Amato appears to be a trainer on the rise

There’s no shortage of star power converging at Santa Anita this week for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Bob Baffert, Jerry Hollendorfer, Bill Mott, Wayne Lukas, Todd Pletcher — they’re trainers with big-time horses and big-time wins.

Then there’s a 38-year-old newcomer, Phil D’Amato, who took over the stable for the retired Mike Mitchell in April.

“Those were my idols,” he said. “That’s what I aspire to be.”

D’Amato hopes to join in the fun that will feature 13 Breeders’ Cup races worth $26 million Friday and Saturday. He has been preparing one of the contenders for $2-million Mile, the front-running Obviously, plus the late-closing Big John B for the $3-million Turf.

With two-time horse of the year Wise Dan unable to run this week because of an injury, Obviously will receive lots of betting interest from Southern California fans. The 6-year-old gelding finished fifth to Wise Dan in last year’s Mile and was third in 2012.

“He’s all racehorse,” D’Amato said. “Obviously just comes into the paddock and exudes class. If you beat him, you’re going to have to give 100% because you know every time he’s going to give you his all.”

It has been a long road for D’Amato to make his name as a trainer.

D’Amato, who grew up in San Pedro, got a political science degree from USC and a degree in animal science from Arizona’s racetrack industry program. He worked for trainers in Florida, Kentucky and New York before a friend asked Mitchell to help D’Amato get a job in Southern California.

“I interviewed him,” Mitchell said. “Instead of introducing him to other trainers, I kept him for myself.”

For 10 years, D’Amato was Mitchell’s assistant.

“It was unbelievable how hard he worked,” Mitchell said.

When Mitchell was sidelined after having a brain tumor removed in 2013, D’Amato filled in. Earlier this year, after 2,690 career wins, Mitchell decided to turn his stable over to D’Amato, though he’s still at Clockers Corner at Santa Anita almost every day watching horses, offering advice and staying involved.

“He calls the shots on the training part,” Mitchell said. “He doesn’t need my help to tell him what to do, but sometimes I might watch things and tell him. It’s something I prayed for and it’s happening that we both can work together.”

Of his decade with Mitchell, D’Amato said, “He was the ultimate teacher. I owe him everything. I got a good foundation back East, but Mike has been like a father to me. He taught me to respect the horse but also tailor a regimen for a particular horse. . . . That way, hopefully you’ll be able to unlock the key to that horse and reach their fullest potential.”

Obviously, an Irish-bred who was first thought to be a sprinter until developing into a top miler, provided D’Amato with his first Grade I stakes victory in the Shoemaker Mile in June.

“I think he’s going to be sensational,” Mitchell said of D’Amato. “He’s already made a name for himself and built up a clientele I didn’t know before. Owners like being around him.”

D’Amato tells the story of going to Hollywood Park when he was 9 with his grandfather.

“He’d tell me to pick a number and he’d put two bucks to win on it for me,” he said. “The very first time he told me to pick a horse, it was the last race of the day, and I remember I picked the one horse and he said whatever you make you’re going to be able to buy a toy. And the horse was 20-1 and it won, so I had a nice toy that day.”

Mitchell expects D’Amato to be getting lots of nice toys.

“I’m very proud of him,” he said.