Anarchist, with BC Mile berth, has BC Sprint as 'main priority'

DEL MAR, Calif. - Anarchist earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 with a win in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday.

The BC Dirt Mile is run at a distance that may not suit Anarchist, who won the longest race of his career in the $252,500 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said on Sunday that the BC Sprint at six furlongs on Nov. 4 has greater appeal. He described the BC Sprint as “the main priority.”

“We’ll play it by ear,” O’Neill said.

Anarchist won his second stakes of the year in the Pat O’Brien, closing from fifth of 10 to win by three-quarters of a length as the 5-2 favorite. In May, Anarchist won the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes at six furlongs at Woodbine.

Owned by Angelo Freda’s Ilium Stables, Anarchist has won 3 of 12 starts and earned $460,508.

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