BC Dirt Mile Hopefuls Line Up in Pat O'Brien

Dr. Venkman and Spirit of Makena are the only two from the six-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) entered in the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) Aug. 23. The second of these two Del Mar stakes isn't as logical a progression these days from the Crosby because of its status as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The Crosby proffers a win-and-you're-in slot for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Instead of featuring pure sprinters stretching out an additional furlong, the O'Brien now often attracts milers and others whose connections are feeling their way toward which Breeders' Cup race might make the most sense. An additional incentive is that Del Mar is hosting this year's Breeders' Cup Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Six horses have won the Crosby and O'Brien in the same season, something that won't happen in 2025 because Crosby winner Lovesick Blues has not been entered. This year's O'Brien poses a bit of a conundrum, as it sports a field of nine whose stakes wins range from Speed Boat Beach's five furlongs on the turf to Express Train's 1 1/4 miles on the dirt. Speed Boat Beach, one of two Bob Baffert trainees in the field, has a grade 1 win at seven furlongs—the 2023 Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. He broke Del Mar's 5 1/2-furlong track record in his debut as a 2-year-old in 2022, that mark of 1:01.86 still standing today. His second race resulted in the turf stakes win in Santa Anita's Speakeasy Stakes. Away from the races from the Malibu until this past May, Speed Boat Beach ran 10th and last in the six-furlong St. Matthews Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, listed as having bled. The 5-year-old son of Bayern most recently posted a bullet five-furlong work of :58 2/5 from the gate at Del Mar Aug. 17, and Baffert has named leading jockey Juan Hernandez to ride. Baffert's other entry is Maymun, undefeated in only two starts, but he hasn't raced since February 2024. A 4-year-old son of Frosted, Maymun debuted with a 7 1/2-length win in January 2024 and followed that with a neck victory that February at a mile, both at Santa Anita under Hernandez. Kazushi Kimura rides this time. Of the Crosby returnees, Dr. Venkman performed best, finishing fourth. Winner of the 2024 San Diego Handicap (G2) at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar, Dr. Venkman earlier this year ran second in back-to-back graded stakes, the seven-furlong Triple Bend Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita and the 6 1/2-furlong Kelly's Landing Stakes (G3) at Churchill. Trainer Mark Glatt switches from jockey Antonio Fresu to Umberto Rispoli. Fresu remains aboard Stronghold for trainer Phil D'Amato. Stronghold is one of two millionaires in the field. He won the 2024 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Sunland Park Derby (G3). Second in the Dec. 26 Malibu to Raging Torrent, Stronghold most recently ran 10th in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) after pressing the early pace. Express Train is the other millionaire. The five-time stakes winner hasn't finished first since capturing the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in 2022. However, since then, he has placed in five stakes, including a third behind winner The Chosen Vron in the 6 1/2-furlong Kona Gold Stakes in 2024. Spirit of Makena finished eighth in the Crosby. Last year, he ran fifth in the O'Brien after a rough, unplaced trip in the Crosby. The George Papaprodromou trainee won the 2023 Triple Bend and San Carlos Stakes (G3), both at seven furlongs. Awesome Rhythm, Tapalo, and Man O Rose round out the field.