Anarchist to skip Pat O'Brien for bigger purse in South Korea

DEL MAR, Calif. – Anarchist, winner of the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Handicap a year ago at Del Mar, has a bigger purse to aim for rather than defend his title in the sprint scheduled for Saturday.

Instead, the 5-year-old is headed to South Korea for the Group 3, $1 million Korea Sprint on Sept. 8 at Seoul Racecourse. After a sharp workout Sunday at Del Mar under jockey Edwin Maldonado, trainer Doug O’Neill said it is full speed ahead to South Korea.

Anarchist worked five furlongs in 1:00. But it was the way he did it that impressed O’Neill and Maldonado.

“I got him in 59,” Maldonado said, acknowledging his time may not jibe with the official workout time. “He did it so easy,” Maldonado said.

O’Neill was joking after the work when he told Maldonado: “They say the South Korea track is just like the Del Mar track.”

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Anarchist will be making his third start off the layoff in the Korea Sprint, which is a win-and-in for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The veteran sprinter finished fifth last out in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

Owned by Ilium Stables, Anarchist has won three races and $470,925 from 14 starts. He could double his earnings by winning the 1,200-meter Korea Sprint. The winner’s share of the purse is $518,519. Maldonado is scheduled to ride Anarchist.

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