Pat O'Brien, Rancho Bernardo top upcoming week
A pair of sprint stakes with Breeders’ Cup implications are the focus next weekend at Del Mar – the seven-furlong, Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes on Aug. 27, and the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares on Aug. 28.
Nominations were released this week for the $250,000 Pat O’Brien, a Win and You’re In for the BC Dirt Mile, and $150,000 Rancho Bernardo, a summer prep toward the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Below are quick looks at Pat O’Brien and Rancho Bernardo nominations.
The winner of the one-turn Pat O’Brien on Saturday receives a fees-paid berth to the two-turn BC Dirt Mile at Keeneland. The 17 nominees to the Pat O’Brien include many trying to find a BC sweet spot between the six-furlong Sprint and 1 1/4-mile Classic.
American Theorem would seek his third straight graded stakes, following the Grade 1 Bing Crosby last month at six furlongs. Others nominated to the Pat O’Brien include Get Her Number, runner-up in the Bing Crosby, and 2020 Pat O’Brien winner C Z Rocket.
Trainer Bill Mott, based in the East and Midwest, nominated two graded winners to Del Mar stakes – Cody’s Wish to the Pat O’Brien and Caramel Swirl to the Rancho Bernardo. Pat O’Brien nominees also include the mare Ce Ce and older gelding Royal Ship. Ce Ce also is nominated to the Rancho Bernardo but is expected to run in the Grade 1 Ballerina next week at Saratoga. Royal Ship is under consideration for the Pacific Classic.
The 14 nominees to Sunday's Rancho Bernardo include 2021 winner Edgeway, who would be making her first start since she was unplaced in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs in May. Edgeway will try to emulate four others who won back-to-back editions of the Rancho Bernardo: Behaving Badly (2005-06), Kalookan Queen (2001-02), Track Gal (1995-96-97), and Mama Kali (1975-76).
Slammed, the New Mexico-bred filly who blitzed a Del Mar allowance last out by more than five lengths, is nominated to the Rancho Bernardo, along with 2021 Del Mar Debutante winner Grace Adler and graded stakes winner Private Mission.