Mott Trainee Speaker's Corner to Del Mar for O'Brien

Though locals tend to win the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar—the last true winning invader was Lewis Michael in 2008—that might change this year. Despite the presence of several good local sprinters, Bill Mott-trained Speaker's Corner  looms the one to beat Aug. 27.

The 4-year-old son of Street Sense   began 2022 with three consecutive graded stakes wins, culminating in the April 9 Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct. The Godolphin homebred lost his next two. But cut Speaker's Corner some slack because he finished third to Flightline  in the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and second to Life Is Good  in the John A. Nerud Stakes (G2), both at Belmont Park.

Mott does well in California. He sent out Chewing Gum  to take the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T) on New Year's Day at Santa Anita Park. At Del Mar, Mott won a Pacific Classic (G1) with Go Between in 2008 and two Del Mar Oaks (G1T) with Harmonize in 2016 and Bail Out Becky in 1995.

Speaker's Corner is 3-for-4 at seven furlongs, his only loss at the distance coming to Life Is Good. Mike Smith will be aboard him for the first time from post 8. The O'Brien offers the winner a "Win and You're In" berth to the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

American Theorem  comes into the O'Brien off back-to-back Southern California graded wins, in the May 29 Triple Bend Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita and July 30 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar. George Papaprodromou trains the 5-year-old son of American Pharoah   for Kretz Racing, and Joe Bravo is set to ride from post 4.

Papaprodromou is having a terrific Del Mar season, his 10 victories tying him for third in the trainer standings through Aug. 21.

"It's just my horses right now are doing well," he said. "They're on top of their form and pretty much ready to go."

In addition to winning the Crosby with American Theorem, Papaprodromou captured the Aug. 7 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) with Cabo Spirit , also for Kretz Racing.

Get Her Number , second in the Crosby and third in the Triple Bend, and Principe Carlo , fifth in the Crosby and second in the Triple Bend, return in the O'Brien. Get Her Number (Ramon Vazquez, post 5) closed late in the Crosby after a wide trip. Prior to that he won a seven-furlong allowance optional claimer at Del Mar. Principe Carlo (Victor Espinoza, post 2) won the seven-furlong Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar last year against California-breds.

Librado Barocio trains Principe Carlo, while Peter Miller trains Get Her Number. Miller also has C Z Rocket  (Umberto Rispoli, post 1) in the O'Brien. C Z Rocket at age 8 is the oldest in the 10-horse field. He won the 2020 O'Brien and ran second in 2021. Miller nominated C Z Rocket to the Crosby, but instead won a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claimer with him at Del Mar July 23.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the O'Brien a record seven times, has two in this year. Laurel River  (Juan Hernandez, post 7) has scored twice at Del Mar at a mile in allowance optional claiming company. Defunded  (Abel Cedillo, post 9) has been primarily competing around two turns and finished second in the 1 1/4-mile Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) May 30.

Entries: Pat O'Brien S. (G2)

Del Mar, Saturday, August 27, 2022, Race 9

• Grade II
• 7f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:02 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1C Z Rocket (FL)	Umberto Rispoli	121	Peter Miller	15/1
2	2Principe Carlo (CA)	Victor Espinoza	121	Librado Barocio	15/1
3	3Restrainedvengence (KY)	Tiago Josue Pereira	121	Val Brinkerhoff	30/1
4	4American Theorem (KY)	Joe Bravo	125	George Papaprodromou	4/1
5	5Get Her Number (KY)	Ramon A. Vazquez	121	Peter Miller	8/1
6	6The Chosen Vron (CA)	Hector Isaac Berrios	121	J. Eric Kruljac	12/1
7	7Laurel River (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	121	Bob Baffert	5/1
8	8Speaker's Corner (KY)	Mike E. Smith	125	William I. Mott	6/5
9	9Defunded (KY)	Abel Cedillo	121	Bob Baffert	8/1
10	10Senor Buscador (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	121	Todd W. Fincher	30/1