Pat O'Brien

Dr. Venkman (g, 5, Ghostzapper--Theory of Change, by Archarcharch), winner of the GII San Diego Handicap at Del Mar 13 months ago, returned to the scene of his biggest career triumph to add the GII Pat O'Brien Stakes Saturday. The $250,000 Pat O'Brien, run at seven furlongs, offers a 'Win and You're In' berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, to be held over this surface Nov. 1. Despite a field of veterans, the Pat O'Brien was not without incident. Two of the six horses--Stronghold (Ghostzapper) and Spirit of...

Seven times second in his 11 previous trips to the post and still eligible for a second-level allowance, Anarchist (Distorted Humor) earned an all-expenses-paid berth into the field for this year's GI BigAss Fans Dirt Mile with a hard-fought success in Saturday's GII Pat O'Brien S. at Del Mar. Beaten for speed from his high draw, Anarchist settled about four paths off the rail and in centerfield as Brickyard Ride (Clubhouse Ride) and Vivir Con Alegria (Chi) (Flyer {Chi}) matched motors through a sizzling opening quarter that was posted in...

C Z Rocket continued his hot streak and stamped his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with a victory in the Pat O'Brien S. Hammered down to even-money for this return to stakes company, the bay stalked from a two-wide third as Law Abidin Citizen set a :23.10 opening quarter. Ranging up in tandem with Flagstaff to tackle the pacesetter entering the far turn, C Z Rocket wore down his rivals in the final sixteenth, edging past Flagstaff to score. Claimed by these connections for $40,000 from Frank...

Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing's Flagstaff (Speightstown) gets the morning line nod in Del Mar's GII Pat O'Brien S., a Saturday "Win and You're In" qualifier for the furlong-longer GI Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile. The lightly raced 6-year-old's 2020 campaign has included a victory in the GII San Carlos S. over this trip in March and a narrow second to Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. in April. He's been off since finishing fourth in the GII Triple Bend S. in June, but has...