Sprinters and Milers Try O’Brien’s Seven Furlongs

The seven-furlong distance of the Aug. 26 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar poses a challenge to trainers. Run a sprinter, perhaps one who just competed in the six-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes (G1)? Or try with a miler, especially since the O’Brien comes with a “Win & You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)?

This year’s field has a mix of both. Crosby winner The Chosen Vron will not run, but four of those behind him will, including Anarchist , who lost by just a head. Since breaking his maiden in July of 2022, Anarchist has finished second in six of seven starts and won the May 14 Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3) at six furlongs over Woodbine‘s synthetic track.

All of those races have come at six or 6 1/2 furlongs. The only times Anarchist has raced seven furlongs—in his first three starts—he ran second, fifth, and ninth (the latter after a rough trip). That was well before Doug O’Neill took over as the trainer of the 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor . Ramon Vazquez will ride Anarchist from post 9.

Brickyard Ride is a front-running sprinter who has successfully carried his speed to a mile against California-bred stakes competition. The 6-year-old son of Clubhouse Ride is coming off a third to Senor Buscador and Slow Down Andy in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap (G2).

Brickyard Ride’s eight stakes victories include wins in the seven-furlong San Carlos Stakes (G2) in 2021 and one-mile Tiznow Stakes in 2022. When he and Anarchist met in the 6 1/2-furlong Kona Gold Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita April 22, they finished one-two, a half-length apart, after Brickyard Ride set fractions of :21.77 for the first quarter-mile and :43.92 for the half.

“That half-mile was pretty rapid,” trainer Craig Lewis said after the Kona Gold. “I got a little concerned, but thankfully Juan had a lot of horse when the running started.”

“Juan” is current Del Mar leading jockey Juan Hernandez, Brickyard Ride’s regular pilot. Hernandez remained with odds-on favorite Defunded in the San Diego, finishing fourth, but is back on Brickyard Ride for the O’Brien from post 6.

Spirit of Makena , off slowly in the Crosby, had to check sharply on the turn, losing all chance and finishing last. Prior to that for trainer George Papaprodromou, the 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper won three in a row, including the San Carlos Stakes (G3) and Triple Bend Stakes (G2), both at seven furlongs. Joe Bravo, Spirit of Makena’s regular pilot, will be aboard from post 7.

Hoist the Gold (Reylu Gutierrez, post 3), a 4-year-old son of Mineshaft trained by Dallas Stewart, is coming off an eighth in the Crosby. Prior to that he had been running against Cody’s Wish —finishing eighth in the one-mile Metropolitan Handicap (G1) after a rough trip and second in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1).

Bittersweet is the entry of Sir Atticus , trained by John Shirreffs and to be ridden by Mike Smith from post 4. Along with owner Jerry Moss, this is the Zenyatta team, but following Moss’ death Aug. 16, Sir Atticus will race in the name of Moss’ estate.

A 4-year-old son of Gormley , who won the 2017 Santa Anita Derby (G1) for Moss and his then-wife Ann, Sir Atticus didn’t start until May at Santa Anita. He broke his maiden in his second start and added an allowance/optional claimer at Del Mar July 21.