Twelve runners will still take part in this seasons Gr. II OBrien Stakes here at Del Mar, the second win and your in event for this year BC Dirt Mile for three years old and up in November.
- The OBrien- Grade II ([BC] Purse $ 200.000
- Del Mar Racetrack- For Three Years old and Up
- Seven furlongs- Main Track
- August 24th, 2019
One of only two events that will give you a ” win and your in” ticket to this seasons BC Dirt Mile. Already a member with his victory in the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap back in June, Compress ( Mb Stables) will be watching closely to see who will join him in November. Possible a stablemate in the likes of Bring The Pain, or any one of the other eleven who will be vying for top honor on the day. Three initial entries have scratched from the event, so three also eligibles make their way to the gate on Saturday. I will break this event down by inside runners, mids, outside competitors and finally extreme outside group. So here’s the field;
Weights- Three Years Old 120 Older- 124
Changes– None
Scratches- Tekkers, Point Blank, Viper Command
Post 1-2-3– This group consist of De Fuego ( Defoe ), Controlled Lion ( Our Athletes ) and Commanding Bee ( John Henry ) I would first dismiss the sophomore Commanding Bee on the fact that he is 0 for 5 this season. He seems to prefer a closing effort in his race style and this distance may not leave him enough late to get there. Of the other two, my preference is for Controlled Lion who is coming off a six furlong victory in the Gr. III Vigil and the added distance should play well for him. As for De Fuego, he can’t be dismissed too quickly with a record of 9 ( 3-1-1 ) at the seven eights distance with this trainer. The five year old posted a couple of 1:21 and three finishes two seasons ago, so he has the ability.
Post 4-5-6– An interesting trio of runners. I would say that Brief And Wonderous ( John Henry )should benefit from speed coming to just his outside, and if we see early fractions of 44 and 3 to 45 and 1, it will give the sophomore chestnut something to run at late. While Lucky Star ( Estero Farms ) has been hitting some top scores when it comes to SRF numbers. he makes it to third base no problem, it the run for home that seems to be in question. Has been racing in top notch affairs, but he would definitely like score a win in this race. As for Red Cup ( Our Athletes) his trainer is more then likely hoping he will do his part at just showing up for a share. He failed in both the Derby and the Belmont and is winless in six starts this season. Will be another tough pill to swallow.
Post 7-8-9– With these three runners, talk about a horse finding himself after a second to last place in the Derby. That’s just what D J C Racing Stables Cardinal Direction has done since cutting back to seven furlongs. Placed two out in the Gr. I Stephens, then posted a 1:21 and one winning time in his most recent Gr. II Nerud. I think he has found a distance of choice. Black Scorpion is a recent purchase and final entry for trainer John Henry. He definitely liked what he saw with this sophomores nose lost in the Gr. I Crosby. That was a head to head battle with Z One Chance and a separation of one one hundreds of a second at the wire. Add the extra furlong here, and he will definitely be in the mix. Finally Bring The Pain from Mb Stables will be this trainers only runner for this event, a practice you don’t see happen to often. Finished two lengths back in ninth in that closely contested Crosby, and hopefully the switch to Ortiz may get his head back in the game.I’m thinking he may just need a little more time off between events now at the prime age of 5.
Post 10-11-12– While the silks will say 13.14 and fifteen, scratches have opened the door for this trio. One who is definitely happy is trainer Fractious as he adds two with Saving Private Ryan and Creepy City. My vote for this duo goes to Creepy City. Already has a start for his new trainer and had to deal with the 12 hole for the Gr. III Vigil Stakes where he closed to finish in a dead heat for second. Has that post position once again and while Franco is set to saddle, Wilson is still available and would be nice to see her have another shot at coming out on top. Saving Private Ryan has been a master at six furlongs or less in his career. Six of his ten wins have come at the six furlong distance, and this will be his first time adding a furlong. I think he is going to find it tough, or will be used up early getting to the rail and suffer being a candidate late. Grabbing the ten hole in the gate will be Winning Link Stables Sharp And Ready. He also competed in this season’s Stephens and Vigil Stakes, but had to settle for a ninth and eighth place finish in both respectively. Yes they were in a length or three, but his SRF numbers are a slight lower then others in here. Nice that he made it in, but it may be all for not.
Duffer
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
