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.

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 furlongs on the turf track and was won by Elmendorf Farm's Seafood in a time of 1:30. 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.

Between 1990–1995 and 2004–2006 the race had Breeders' Cup incentives which were reflected in the name of the event.

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

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: 7 furlongs (dirt): 1:20.06 – Lit de Justice (1995) 7 furlongs (Polytrack): 1:20.99 – Goldencents (2014)

Margins: lengths – Catalina Cruiser (2018)

Most wins: 2 – Catalina Cruiser (2018, 2019) 2 – Disturbingthepeace (2002, 2003)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 – Victor Espinoza (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009)

Most wins by a trainer: 8 – Bob Baffert (2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Hronis Racing (2018, 2019) 2 – Rita & David Milch (2002, 2003)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefPat O'Brien Stakes2026Iron Man Cal4Joel RosarioPhilip D'AmatoLittle Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stables7 furlongs1:22.02$250,000II2025Dr. Venkman 5Umberto RispoliMark GlattAlipony Racing, Dan J. Agnew, Clint Bunch & James Hailey7 furlongs1:21.53$250,500II2024Raging Torrent 3Antonio FresuDoug F. O'NeillGreat Friends Stables & Mark Davis 7 furlongs1:21.17$251,500II2023Anarchist4Ramon Vazquez Doug F. O'NeillIlium Stables7 furlongs1:23.21$250,000II2022Laurel River4Juan J. HernandezBob BaffertJuddmonte7 furlongs1:21.37$250,000II2021Ginobli4Drayden Van DykeRichard BaltasSlam Dunk Racing et al.7 furlongs1:22.36$200,000II2020C Z Rocket6Flavien PratPeter L. MillerTom Kagele7 furlongs1:22.25$151,000II2019Catalina Cruiser5Flavien PratJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing 7 furlongs1:22.00$200,351II2018Catalina Cruiser4Drayden Van DykeJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing 7 furlongs1:22.13$196,000II2017Giant Expectations4Gary L. StevensPeter EurtonBorder Racing & Gatto Racing7 furlongs1:21.08$201,725II2016Masochistic6Tyler BazeRonald W. EllisLos Pollos Hermanos Racing & Jay Em Ess Stable7 furlongs1:20.31$184,000II2015Appealing Tale5Joseph TalamoPeter L. MillerCecil & Gary Barber7 furlongs1:21.40$245,000II2014Goldencents4Rafael BejaranoDoug F. O'NeillW. C. Racing7 furlongs1:20.99$250,500II2013Fed Biz4Martin GarciaBob BaffertKaleem Shah7 furlongs1:21.12$251,750II2012Capital Account5David R. FloresBob BaffertThoroughbred Legends Racing Stable7 furlongs1:21.56$250,000II2011The Factor3Martin GarciaBob BaffertGeorge Bolton & Fog City Stable7 furlongs1:21.56$250,000I2010El Brujo4Joel RosarioBob BaffertArnold Zetcher7 furlongs1:21.70$298,000I2009Zensational3Victor EspinozaBob BaffertZayat Stables7 furlongs1:22.31$300,000IPat O'Brien Handicap2008Lewis Michael5René R. DouglasFrank C. Calabrese7 furlongs1:21.17$297,500II2007Greg's Gold6Victor EspinozaDavid E. HofmansBill Boswell7 furlongs1:23.95$306,000II2006Siren Lure5Alex O. SolisArt ShermanStuart Kesselman and Tony & Marilyn Melkonian 7 furlongs1:21.89$298,000II2005Imperialism4Victor EspinozaKristin MulhallSteve Taub7 furlongs1:21.70$280,000II2004Kela6Tyler BazeMike R. MitchellJay Manoogian7 furlongs1:21.17$194,000II2003Disturbingthepeace5Victor EspinozaDarrell ViennaDavid S. & Rita Milch & Herrick Racing7 furlongs1:21.53$150,000II2002Disturbingthepeace4Victor EspinozaDarrell ViennaDavid S. & Rita Milch7 furlongs1:21.89$150,000II2001El Corredor4Victor EspinozaBob BaffertHal Earnhardt III7 furlongs1:20.42$150,000II2000Love That Red4Corey NakataniBob BaffertTerry D. Wells7 furlongs1:21.89$150,000II1999Regal Thunder5Chris AntleyJulio C. CananiDehaven, Levy, Malibu Valley Farms, et al.7 furlongs1:21.13$150,000II1998Old Topper3Eddie DelahoussayeNoble ThreewittBarbara Hunter7 furlongs1:21.51$158,700III1997Tres Paraiso5Gary L. StevensDarrell ViennaErnest Auerbach7 furlongs1:21.45$108,200III1996Alphabet Soup5Chris AntleyDavid E. HofmansRidder Thoroughbred Stud7 furlongs1:20.79$105,450III1995Lit de Justice5Corey NakataniJenine Sahadi Evergreen Farm 7 furlongs1:20.06$103,525III1994D'Hallevant4Corey NakataniRon McAnallyMary Fusselman & Janice L. Ely7 furlongs1:20.25$100,350III1993Slerp4Robert B. Hess Jr.Allan L. Richie7 furlongs1:21.36$87,850 Listed 1992Light of Morn6Eddie DelahoussayeRodney Rash Robert E. Hibbert 7 furlongs1:20.65$107,275Listed 1991Bruho5Corey NakataniJerry M. FanningJoseph M. Scardino7 furlongs1:21.40$82,600 Listed 1990Sensational Star6Rafael Q. MezaWilliam SpawrTony Calhoun, Larry Risoldi & John Sullivan7 furlongs1:20.60$108,025 1989Olympic Native4Robbie DavisMike J. OrmanJoe Alvarez & Helen Smith7 furlongs1:20.20$78,600 1988Sebrof4Gary L. StevensLaz BarreraAaron U. Jones7 furlongs1:20.40$66,350 1987Zany Tactics6Jack L. KaenelBlake R. HeapVera C. Brunette7 furlongs1:21.20$54,250 1986Bold Brawley3Pat ValenzuelaRonald W. EllisGilmour & Morrow7 furlongs1:20.40$53,350 1981–1985Race not heldPat O'Brien Stakes1980Seafood2Marco CastanedaRobert J. FrankelElmendorf Farm furlongs1:30.40$45,850

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2020 Del Mar Media Guide

References