Anarchist earns Pat O’Brien Stakes win at Del Mar
DEL MAR — Anarchist was forced to settle for second prize in his last start, but the 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt grabbed all the marbles Saturday in the $250,000 Grade II Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar.
Second behind The Chosen Vron, losing by only a nose, in the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes on July 29, Anarchist put in a big run as the field turned for home and held off the fast-closing Bye Bye Bobby (33-1) to win the top prize of $150,000 and earn a guaranteed berth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Ramon Vazquez rode the 5-2 favorite, who scored the second graded-stakes victory of his 12-race career and won for the third time overall. Anarchist, who’s finished no worse than second in 10 of his 12 starts, padded his career earnings to $460,508.
It was also a big day for winning trainer Doug O’Neill, who saddled three winners overall and moved into a tie with Philip D’Amato atop the trainer standings with 15 victories.Final time for the 7 furlongs was 1:23.21 after pacesetter Brickyard Ride, who finished eighth in the 10-horse field, carved out splits of 21.49 and 44.44.
“He was good today, full of run,” Vazquez said. “I took a little hold on him and he was fine with it. Then when I asked him, he really went. He was a runner today.”
Anarchist was fifth after the first quarter mile, had moved to fourth around the turn, opened up a 1 1/2-length lead at the top of the stretch and then withstood a late rally by Bye Bye Bobby and Drayden Van Dyke.
O’Neill felt good about his horse’s chances after post positions were drawn Wednesday. The winner started from the No. 8 post.
“Ramon saved a lot of energy and he got good position,” he said. “We all wanted to try to make the finish line the quarter pole. If you can win the quarter pole, you’ve got a chance to win. He doesn’t have a big stretch run, but he grinds it out and we were hoping if he was leading turning for home we’d have a big chance. It worked out perfectly.”
The victory was O’Neill’s 45th stakes victory at Del Mar and first this summer. He’s won the Pat O’Brien two times after saddling Goldencents for a victory in 2014.
Vazquez has won three stakes this meet and Saturday’s victory gave him seven overall at the seaside track.
FRESU ON A TEAR
Jockey Antonio Fresu won two races Saturday to run his total to seven this week. With 20 victories, he’s moved into a tie for second in the jockey standings with Umberto Rispoli, who is in Japan competing in an international competition.