DEL MAR, Calif. – The accomplished sprinter Dr. Venkman was considered for two stakes at Del Mar on Saturday – the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs and the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles – before the decision was reached to try the longer race. The call may turn out to be a career-defining move. Racing around two turns for the first time, Dr. Venkman stalked 2-5 favorite Arabian Knight to the turn and held off a stubborn rival in Katonah to win by a length. :: DRF's Del Mar Handicapping Packages: Get everything you need to play the races with confidence. “It’s nice when you make the right decision,” winning trainer Mark Glatt said. Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Dr. Venkman ($8.20) was timed in 1:43.36 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 99. The 4-year-old gelding had an ideal trip, following Arabian Knight through a decent early pace of 23.06 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.95 for a half-mile. Dr. Venkman, racing outside of Arabian Knight, was narrowly in front on the turn and led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. Katonah, unraced since a win in the Pleasanton Mile in Northern California in July 2023, closed some ground late, but could not catch Dr. Venkman. Glatt wondered whether Dr. Venkman reached the front too soon in his first start since a second in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on June 1, his 2024 debut. “You hope when you stretch a horse out, coming off a sprint, they will relax well,” Glatt said. “They don’t always. He relaxed beautifully. I think he got a little lost in the stretch, but he ran great.” Katonah, ridden by Tiago Pereira for trainer Doug O’Neill, started in a graded stakes for the first time in the San Diego. “I’m so happy,” Pereira said. “He was good. It’s a good race for the next step.” Express Train, winner of the 2021 San Diego Handicap, closed from last to finish third, a half-length in front of Arabian Knight, who was beaten 5 1/4 lengths in his first start since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last November. Arabian Knight won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last September. Jockey Juan Hernandez said Arabian Knight was comfortable on the lead, but could not sustain the effort. “I have no excuse,” Hernandez said. “I wanted to take the lead. He likes to be on the lead. “At the three-eighths pole, when it was time to open up, he didn’t open up.” Newgrange finished last of five. Subsanador was scratched earlier in the week. Dr. Venkman, by Ghostzapper, races for the partnership of Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen, and James Hailey. Dr. Venkman has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $358,500. All three of the gelding’s wins have been at Del Mar, including impressive victories in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs last July, and an allowance race at seven furlongs last September. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.