Senor Buscador could also be ranked second solely to Thorpedo Anna within the present Nationwide Thoroughbred Racing Affiliation ballot, however the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar Aug. 24 is sprinter territory. And in California today, meaning one horse: The Chosen Vron .
Senor Buscador has been performing extraordinarily effectively on the world stage. He gained this yr’s Saudi Cup (G1) and ran third within the Dubai World Cup (G1). He’ll attempt to in the reduction of to seven furlongs for his first race in additional than 4 months, and he can definitely win at Del Mar, having taken the San Diego Handicap (G2) there in 2023.
Coach Todd Fincher may have Senor Buscador in his standard wonderful form. By earnings alone, Senor Buscador is with out measure within the eight-horse discipline, having banked $12,696,427. Joe Talamo is about to trip from publish 7.
Senor Buscador has began 19 occasions in his profession, with seven wins. The Chosen Vron, alternatively, has 19 wins, 14 of them up to now three seasons—all in stakes—with just one loss amongst that string, in final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1). The Chosen Vron is coming off a glowing triumph within the six-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar July 27, and his lifetime bankroll is a way more modest $1,659,678. However do not let that idiot you: He is a profitable machine.
Coach Eric Kruljac has breezed The Chosen Vron a few occasions because the Crosby, most lately sending him 4 furlongs in :48 1/5 Aug. 17.
“It was simply stunning—he simply cruised,” Kruljac stated after the work.
Hector Berrios frequently companions The Chosen Vron and might be again aboard for the O’Brien. They drew publish 6.
Within the Crosby, The Chosen Vron earned an computerized, fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dash as a part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence. One other Problem Sequence race, the O’Brien gives a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile (G1) to the winner.
The O’Brien nominations included Arabian Knight , winner of the 2023 Pacific Traditional Stakes (G1) at Del Mar. However Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm introduced Aug. 19 that the 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo had been retired and would start stud responsibility there subsequent season.
As a substitute, Senor Buscador and The Chosen Vron will meet six others, all prone to be a lot larger costs than these two.
See By means of It and Blissful Jack return from the Crosby for trainers Genaro Vallejo and Doug O’Neill, respectively. See By means of It (Tiago Pereira, publish 2) ran fourth within the Crosby. A stakes winner at Golden Gate Fields in 2023, See By means of It earlier this yr completed third within the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. Blissful Jack (Edwin Maldonado, publish 3) gained the Triple Bend Stakes (G2) one begin previous to ending sixth within the Crosby.
Large Metropolis Lights , educated by Richard Mandella, most lately ran third within the Triple Bend. Previous to that, his document is 5 wins and 4 seconds, all of these seconds to The Chosen Vron. Kazushi Kimura will trip from publish 5.
Churchill Downs stakes winner Raging Torrent , a number of stakes-placed Moose Mitchell , and allowance optionally available claimer winner Arrowthegreat spherical out the sector.
Entries: Pat O’Brien S. (G2)
Del Mar, Saturday, August 24, 2024, Race 9
- Grade II
- 7f
- Dust
- $250,000
- 3 yo’s & up
- 6:00 PM (native)
