Disturbingthepeace ends skid in Pat O'Brien

DEL MAR, Calif. - Disturbingthepeace scored the final victory of a six-race winning streak in the 2002 Pat O'Brien Handicap. On Sunday, he became the first horse to defend his title in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien, ending a yearlong six-race losing streak.

"This looks more like the horse we were running last year," trainer Darrell Vienna said.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Disturbingthepeace ($14.40) ran seven furlongs in 1:21.40, beating Rushin to Altar by two lengths. Full Moon Madness, who entered the race on a four-race winning streak, finished third in the field of 10.

Disturbingthepeace broke from the rail and was prominent from the start. He dueled with Bluesthestandard and Tough Game through early fractions of 22.20 and 44 seconds before pulling clear in early stretch. Bluesthestandard, the 3-2 favorite, faded to finish seventh.

The win by Disturbingthepeace gave Espinoza his third consecutive victory in the race. He won in 2001 aboard El Corredor.

Owned by Bill Herrick and David and Rita Milch, Disturbingthepeace, 5, has won 8 of 22 starts and $662,780. Since the 2002 Pat O'Brien, Disturbingthepeace's losing streak included a seventh in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park last October and a 13th in a $1.4 million sprint in Japan in late March.

In the Bing Crosby Handicap on July 26, he finished sixth but lost a shoe in the race, according to Vienna.

"Prior to his last race, he was starting to be like himself," Vienna said.

Vienna said the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 is a long-term goal.