Pat O'Brien Stakes

Last updated
Pat O'Brien Stakes
Grade II race
Location Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar, California, United States
InauguratedInitial 1980
Renewed 1986
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Website Del Mar
Race information
Distance 7 furlongs
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old & older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse$250,000 (2022)
Bonuses Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

The Pat O'Brien Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.

Contents

History

The race was named in honor of actor and Del Mar Racetrack co-founder, Pat O'Brien (1899–1983). Pat O'Brien, a classic character movie actor who often appeared in a James Cagney starring vehicle, loved the races.

The inaugural running of the event was on 25 September 1980, the twelfth and final day of the Del Mar Fair meeting. The event was for two-year-olds, over a distance of 7+12 furlongs on the turf track and was won by Elmendorf Farm's Seafood in a time of 1:3025. [1] The following year the L.A. County Fair was moved to Pomona Fairgrounds and the event was idle.

In 1986 the administration of Del Mar renewed the event during their summer meeting as a sprint handicap over seven furlongs on the dirt. [2]

Between 19901995 and 20042006 the race had Breeders' Cup incentives which were reflected in the name of the event. [3]

The event was classified a Grade III event in 1994 and upgraded to Grade II in 1999. [3] In 2009 the event became a Grade I [2] and after three runnings it was downgraded back to a Grade II stakes. [3]

Of the notable winners of the event are Lit de Justice who won in 1995 in stakes record time, the following year he won the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The 1996 winner Alphabet Soup used the sprint event in his campaign which led to a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The 2014 winner Goldencents went on to win his second Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Records

Speed record:

Margins:

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
Pat O'Brien Stakes
2024Raging Torrent3Antonio Fresu Doug F. O'Neill Great Friends Stables & Mark Davis7 furlongs1:21.17$251,500II [4]
2023Anarchist4Ramon Vazquez Doug F. O'Neill Ilium Stables7 furlongs1:23.21$250,000II [5]
2022Laurel River4Juan J. Hernandez Bob Baffert Juddmonte 7 furlongs1:21.37$250,000II [6]
2021Ginobli4 Drayden Van Dyke Richard BaltasSlam Dunk Racing et al.7 furlongs1:22.36$200,000II [7]
2020C Z Rocket6 Flavien Prat Peter L. Miller Tom Kagele7 furlongs1:22.25$151,000II [8]
2019Catalina Cruiser5 Flavien Prat John W. Sadler Hronis Racing7 furlongs1:22.00$200,351II [9]
2018Catalina Cruiser4Drayden Van Dyke John W. Sadler Hronis Racing7 furlongs1:22.13$196,000II [10]
2017Giant Expectations4 Gary L. Stevens Peter EurtonBorder Racing & Gatto Racing7 furlongs1:21.08$201,725II [11]
2016Masochistic6 Tyler Baze Ronald W. Ellis Los Pollos Hermanos Racing & Jay Em Ess Stable7 furlongs1:20.31$184,000II [12]
2015Appealing Tale5 Joseph Talamo Peter L. Miller Cecil & Gary Barber 7 furlongs1:21.40$245,000II [13]
2014 Goldencents 4 Rafael Bejarano Doug F. O'Neill W. C. Racing7 furlongs1:20.99$250,500II [14]
2013Fed Biz4 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Kaleem Shah7 furlongs1:21.12$251,750II [15]
2012Capital Account5 David R. Flores Bob Baffert Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable7 furlongs1:21.56$250,000II [16]
2011The Factor3 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert George Bolton & Fog City Stable7 furlongs1:21.56$250,000I [17]
2010El Brujo4 Joel Rosario Bob Baffert Arnold Zetcher7 furlongs1:21.70$298,000I [18]
2009 Zensational 3 Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 7 furlongs1:22.31$300,000I [19]
Pat O'Brien Handicap
2008Lewis Michael5 René R. Douglas Wayne M. Catalano Frank C. Calabrese7 furlongs1:21.17$297,500II [20]
2007Greg's Gold6 Victor Espinoza David E. Hofmans Bill Boswell7 furlongs1:23.95$306,000II [21]
2006Siren Lure5 Alex O. Solis Art Sherman Stuart Kesselman and Tony & Marilyn Melkonian7 furlongs1:21.89$298,000II [22]
2005Imperialism4 Victor Espinoza Kristin MulhallSteve Taub7 furlongs1:21.70$280,000II [23]
2004Kela6 Tyler Baze Mike R. MitchellJay Manoogian7 furlongs1:21.17$194,000II [24]
2003 Disturbingthepeace 5 Victor Espinoza Darrell Vienna David S. & Rita Milch & Herrick Racing7 furlongs1:21.53$150,000II [25]
2002 Disturbingthepeace 4 Victor Espinoza Darrell Vienna David S. & Rita Milch 7 furlongs1:21.89$150,000II [26]
2001El Corredor4 Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Hal Earnhardt III7 furlongs1:20.42$150,000II [27]
2000Love That Red4 Corey Nakatani Bob Baffert Terry D. Wells7 furlongs1:21.89$150,000II [28]
1999Regal Thunder5 Chris Antley Julio C. Canani Dehaven, Levy, Malibu Valley Farms, et al.7 furlongs1:21.13$150,000II [29]
1998Old Topper3 Eddie Delahoussaye Noble Threewitt Barbara Hunter7 furlongs1:21.51$158,700III [30]
1997Tres Paraiso5 Gary L. Stevens Darrell ViennaErnest Auerbach7 furlongs1:21.45$108,200III [31]
1996 Alphabet Soup 5 Chris Antley David E. Hofmans Ridder Thoroughbred Stud 7 furlongs1:20.79$105,450III [32]
1995 Lit de Justice 5 Corey Nakatani Jenine SahadiEvergreen Farm7 furlongs1:20.06$103,525III [33]
1994D'Hallevant4 Corey Nakatani Ron McAnally Mary Fusselman & Janice L. Ely7 furlongs1:20.25$100,350III [34]
1993Slerp4Adalberto Diaz LopezRobert B. Hess Jr.Allan L. Richie7 furlongs1:21.36$87,850Listed [35]
1992Light of Morn6 Eddie Delahoussaye Rodney RashRobert E. Hibbert7 furlongs1:20.65$107,275Listed [36]
1991Bruho5 Corey Nakatani Jerry M. Fanning Joseph M. Scardino7 furlongs1:21.40$82,600Listed [37]
1990Sensational Star6Rafael Q. MezaWilliam SpawrTony Calhoun, Larry Risoldi & John Sullivan7 furlongs1:20.60$108,025 [38]
1989Olympic Native4 Robbie Davis Mike J. OrmanJoe Alvarez & Helen Smith7 furlongs1:20.20$78,600 [39]
1988Sebrof4 Gary L. Stevens Laz Barrera Aaron U. Jones7 furlongs1:20.40$66,350 [40]
1987Zany Tactics6 Jack L. Kaenel Blake R. HeapVera C. Brunette7 furlongs1:21.20$54,250 [41]
1986Bold Brawley3 Pat Valenzuela Ronald W. Ellis Gilmour & Morrow7 furlongs1:20.40$53,350 [42]
19811985Race not held
Pat O'Brien Stakes
1980Seafood2 Marco Castaneda Robert J. Frankel Elmendorf Farm 7+12 furlongs1:30.40$45,8502YO only [1]

Legend:
  All Weather Track  Dirt  Turf

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

Related Research Articles

The Derby City Distaff Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three and older over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in early May on the Kentucky Derby day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The current purse is US$1,000,000.

The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race, by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf track, held annually in late January or early February at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $1,000,000.

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old or older over the distance of six furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

The Ballerina Handicap is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $500,000.

The Forego Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for horses four years old and older over the distance of seven furlongs on the dirt, scheduled annually in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $500,000.

The Smile Sprint Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three and older over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in early July at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

The Best Pal Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.

The Clement L. Hirsch Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three years and older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track, scheduled annually in late July or early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $400,000.

The Del Mar Mile Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years and older run over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.

The Kona Gold Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for horses that are three years old or older with allowance conditions, over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in April at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

The Las Cienegas Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age four and up over a distance of about six and one-half furlongs on the Hillside Turf Course held annually in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, USA. The event currently offers a purse of US$100,000.

The Senator Ken Maddy Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, two years old and older over a distance of about 6+12 furlongs on the Downhill turf course scheduled in early November at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California

The Sorrento Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.

The Rancho Bernardo Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of Thoroughbred horse races in which the winner earns an automatic spot in a specified Breeders' Cup race. The challenge races change somewhat each year. The Challenge series began in 2007 with 24 "Win and You're In" races from 2 countries. By 2014, the series had grown to 71 races across 13 countries. During that period, 24 winners of Breeders' Cup races had qualified via the challenge series.

The Maryland Sprint Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of six furlongs run annually in mid May on Preakness Stakes day at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

Points Offthebench was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances over sprint distances. Campaigned exclusively in California, he was lightly raced in his early career, running twice a two-year-old in 2011 and once in the following year. As a four-year-old in 2013 he began by racing against moderate opposition before emerging as one of the best sprinters in North America with Grade I victories in the Bing Crosby Stakes and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. Preparing for the Breeders' Cup, he fractured his leg during a workout and was euthanized. At the end of the year, he was posthumously named American Champion Sprint Horse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldencents</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Goldencents is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning consecutive runnings of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. As a two-year-old he ran three times, winning the Delta Jackpot Stakes and finishing second in the Champagne Stakes. In the following year he won the Sham Stakes and the Santa Anita Derby before finishing unplaced in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He was brought back to sprint distances and ran well without winning before taking the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. As a four-year-old he won the Pat O'Brien Stakes and finished second three times before winning his second Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Drayden Van Dyke is a jockey in thoroughbred racing. At graded stakes races, Van Dyke has won 67 events ranging from Grade I to Grade III. Of these wins, Van Dyke has won both the Starlet Stakes and Yellow Ribbon Handicap four times. As a Breeders' Cup jockey, Van Dyke won the Turf Sprint event at the 2018 Breeders' Cup. He was also runner-up at the Breeders' Cup Mile event in 2018 and the Dirt Mile at the 2021 Breeders' Cup.

The Runhappy Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four years old or older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in early May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $175,000.

References

  1. 1 2 "Results At Del Mar (1980 Pat O'Brien Stakes – race 11: held 25 September 1980)". Los Angeles Times . 26 September 1980. p. 48. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 "PAT O'BRIEN STAKES – MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Pat O'Brien Stakes (Gr. 2)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  4. "2023 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 10)". Equibase. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  5. "2024 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  6. "2022 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)" (PDF). Equibase. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  7. "2021 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 10)" (PDF). Equibase. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  8. "2020 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 10)". Equibase. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  9. "2019 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  10. "2018 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  11. "2017 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  12. "2016 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 3)". Equibase. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  13. "2015 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 4)". Equibase. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  14. "2014 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  15. "2013 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 25 August 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  16. "2012 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 2 – (race 5)". Equibase. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  17. "2011 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 1 – (race 5)". Equibase. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  18. "2010 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  19. "2009 Pat O'Brien Stakes Grade 1 – (race 4)". Equibase. 6 September 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  20. "2008 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 24 August 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  21. "2007 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 2 – (race 3)". Equibase. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  22. "2006 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 20 August 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  23. "2005 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 4)". Equibase. 21 August 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  24. "2004 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  25. "2003 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 17 August 2003. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  26. "2002 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 18 August 2002. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  27. "2001 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 12 August 2001. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  28. "2000 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 20 August 2000. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  29. "1999 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 14 August 1999. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  30. "1998 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 3 – (race 4)". Equibase. 15 August 1998. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  31. "1997 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 16 August 1997. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  32. "1996 Pat O'Brien Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 17 August 1996. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  33. "1995 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 19 August 1995. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  34. "1994 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 20 August 1994. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  35. "1993 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 21 August 1993. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  36. "1992 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 23 August 1992. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  37. "1991 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 24 August 1991. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  38. Mieczerski, Bob (30 August 1990). "Sensational Star Turns In Another Sensational Win in O'Brien Sprint (1990 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap – race 8: held 29 August 1990)". Los Angeles Times . p. 67. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  39. McKibben, Dave (31 August 1989). "Sensational Star Turns In Another Sensational Win in O'Brien Sprint (1989 Pat O'Brien Handicap – race 8: held 30 August 1989)". Los Angeles Times . p. 73. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  40. Christine, Bill (31 July 1988). "Sebrof Wins in Pat O'Brien Handicap (1988 Pat O'Brien Handicap – race 8: held 30 July 1988)". Los Angeles Times . p. 47. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  41. Schuelein, Steve (23 August 1987). "Zany Tactics prevails, faces $120,000 question (1987 Pat O'Brien Handicap – race 8: held 22 August 1987)". Escondido Times-Advocate . p. 29. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  42. "Bold Brawley Wins O'Brien 'Cap (1986 Pat O'Brien Handicap – race 8: held 30 August 1986)". The San Bernardino County Sun . Associated Press. 31 August 1986. p. 53. Retrieved 16 August 2020.