A reinvented Iron Man Cal finds his true calling in Pat O'Brien victory

DEL MAR, Calif. – For most of his career, 4-year-old Iron Man Cal was a darn good turf colt.

Turns out he is an even better dirt gelding.

Iron Man Cal, gelded this spring and switched to dirt this summer, sprang a front-running upset Saturday in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar. The $18.40 upset by Iron Man Cal earned him a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

Phil D’Amato trains Iron Man Cal. His instructions to jockey Joel Rosario were simple. “Break him, and if you’re on the lead, go for it.”

Rosario went for it. Iron Man Cal set the pace (22.51 and 45.11 seconds), briefly shook clear into the lane, and held by a half-length over late-runner Moonlight. The 7-2 favorite Big City Lights finished third. Iron Man Cal’s time for seven furlongs was 1:22.02 over a main track that produced fast times on Saturday.

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For both jockey and trainer, the hardest part of the Pat O’Brien was just getting there. Rosario was unseated in the first race when highly regarded 2-year-old Ala Sawab stumbled badly after he broke. Rosario fell hard to the ground, but went on to ride the remainder of the card.

D’Amato had his hands full before the race. Iron Man Cal lost his left front shoe in the paddock, and a farrier was called for a last-minute replacement. Iron Man Cal was stirred up during the repair, repeatedly rearing while D’Amato tried to keep him calm.

No harm, no foul. Iron Man Cal settled down, then took care of business. “He must have liked those new shoes,” Rosario said afterward.

The win was Iron Man Cal’s first graded stakes. His previous career highlight was finishing second in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

The switch to dirt at age 4, and gelding him, have improved the son of Collected. He was making his third start as a gelding, and shortening up from a third-place finish in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap.

“Gelding took enough edge off him, and I just think – dirt,” D’Amato said. “He’s got that steady speed, and he doesn’t have to quicken. When you’re on the grass, you’ve got to have more of a turn of foot.”

Iron Man Cal has won four races and $543,125 from 11 starts. He is owned by a partnership that includes Little Red Feather and Madaket Stables.

After top three finishers Iron Man Cal, Moonlight and Big City Lights, the remaining order was Stronghold, March of Time, Dr. Venkman, Vodka Vodka, Gold Sweep, Jimmy’s Dailys, and Bartholdy.

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