Nine expected for O'Brien

Stronghold, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in 2024, is one of five graded stakes winners among nine expected runners in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar.

Trained by Phil D’Amato, Stronghold is a two-time stakes winner who has not raced since he finished 10th of 11 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25. Other graded stakes winners expected to run in the Pat O’Brien are Dr. Venkman, Express Train, Speed Boat Beach, and Spirit of Makena. Awesome Rhythm, Man O Rose, Maymun, and Tapalo are the other probable runners.

The winner of the $250,000 race receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

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