The 41st running of the $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) has been set for this Saturday at Del Mar, and the 7-furlong dirt sprint serves as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win, and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
A field of 10 is expected, including last year’s winner Dr. Venkman and a slew of talented long sprinters/milers to challenge, all looking to make it to the World Championships. One lucky runner will attempt to add his name to the record books for this race that includes notables Lit de Justice (1995), Alphabet Soup (1996), Goldencents (2014), Catalina Cruiser (2018–2019), Laurel River (2022), Anarchist (2023) and Raging Torrent (2024).
March of Time (5-1) is a lightly raced Justify colt who won an allowance at Los Alamitos and was second in a Del Mar allowance optional claiming race in late July. He has earned some huge figures to show this step into his first graded stakes is warranted. He has shown tactical speed, is clearly improving, and has a great shot to pull in the win under Juan Hernandez.
Big City Lights (the 7-2 morning-line favorite) is a durable 7-year-old California-bred by Mr. Big who owns multiple stakes victories, including the 2024 Cary Grant and 2026 Thor’s Echo Stakes. He finished third in the 2024 Pat O’Brien and has two wins in 2026. He often races mid-pack to off- the-pace and finishes determinedly, especially against state-breds, though he has held his own in open company. Kazushi Kimura rides for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella.
The Mark Glatt-trained Dr. Venkman (6-1) is the defending champion, and the Ghostzapper gelding later finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). In 2026, the 6-year-old has been unplaced in two stakes after a long layoff but has been working well at Del Mar all meet. He is a versatile type but often races mid-pack, launching a late rally. The track is very much his home track (he has four wins from eight starts over the main track) and figures to improve off his last two under Umberto Rispoli.
Stronghold (6-1) is a consistent graded-stakes performer by Ghostzapper. The 5-year-old won the 2024 Santa Anita Derby (G1) in 2024 and was second in the 2025 Pat O’Brien, scored the win in the 2026 Triple Bend (G3) at Santa Anita at 7 furlongs, and was sixth in the recent Bing Crosby (G1) in what was a very uncharacteristically flat performance. The Phil D’Amato trainee’s figures suggest he belongs here, and a return to old form makes him dangerous. He typically tracks just off the pace or presses before launching a strong finish. Antonio Fresu rides.
Bartholdy (6-1) won a Del Mar allowance optional claiming race in late July and was third behind Stronghold in the Triple Bend. He is a tactical stalker/presser who can sit close to the pace but will need a career effort to defeat the top choices. Tyler Baze rides for Jose Francisco D’Angelo.
Iron Man Cal (8-1), another from D’Amato, is a 4-year-old by Collected who has previously shown a ton of talent on turf [including a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) runner-up effort]. He switched to dirt successfully in 2026 and won an allowance before finishing third in the San Diego Handicap (G2). He typically tracks the pace and will get a decent pace to sit behind under jockey Joel Rosario. Vodka Vodka (6-1) is a California-bred by Stay Thirsty, trained by Aggie Ordonez, who returns off a 4 ½-month layoff after taking the Casa Ford Sunland Park Stakes in March. That win came on the heels of a strong second in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) back in March and a win in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic. This spot is a bit of a head-scratcher; he hasn’t raced shorter than a mile since his first two unplaced starts 2 ½ years ago, so the cutback to 7 furlongs is a question mark. He usually races forwardly or stalks, so it will be interesting to see what the cutback and one turn does to his trip under jockey Kent Desormeaux.
Moonlight (10-1) makes his second start for Peter Miller after racing east for trainers like Todd Pletcher and then Chris Block, where the son of Audible was a stakes winner before being sent west. He finished a strong third in the Bing Crosby last out and could be a factor if he shows that form. He is a versatile closer/stalker who can improve late when the pace is honest. Victor Espinoza will be aboard.
The well-bred stakes winner Gold Sweep (20-1) finished seventh in the Bing Crosby last out in his California debut, and instead of shipping back east to trainer John Haran’s Midwest base, he’s been in California working well over the Del Mar main track. He has shown speed in sprints but has been outclassed in recent graded company and figures to show early pace under Ricky Gonzalez.
Jimmy’s Dailys (20-1) ships in off a very up-and-down career in the East. He’s stakes-placed, but recent form dictates that, despite developing into a sprinter/miler, he will be in over his head here.
Post time for the Pat O’Brien, race 9, is 9:11 p.m. ET.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stronghold (KY) | A Fresu | P D'Amato | 6/1 |
| 2 | Dr. Venkman (KY) | U Rispoli | M Glatt | 6/1 |
| 3 | Vodka Vodka (CA) | K J Desormeaux | A Ordonez | 6/1 |
| 4 | Gold Sweep (KY) | R Gonzalez | J Haran | 20/1 |
| 5 | Bartholby (KY) | T Baze | J F D'Angelo | 6/1 |
| 6 | Iron Man Cal (KY) | J Rosario | P D'Amato | 8/1 |
| 7 | Moonlight (KY) | V Espinoza | P Miller | 10/1 |
| 8 | Big City Lights (CA) | K Kimura | R E Mandella | 7/2 |
| 9 | March of Time (KY) | J J Hernandez | B Baffert | 5/1 |
| 10 | Jimmy's Dailys (KY) | E Jaramillo | J F D'Angelo | 20/1 |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
