How to bet the 2025 Pat O’Brien Stakes

August 22nd, 2025

A berth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) is on the line in Saturday’s $250,000 Pat O’Brien S. (G2) at Del Mar. The seven-furlong dash on the main strip attracted a high-quality field of nine and promises to be a thrilling feature on a strong day of racing. 

Pat O’Brien Wagers

  • $4 trifecta key 2 with 4,6,7 ($24)
  • 30-cent superfecta 2,4 with 2,4,6,7 with 2,4,6,7 with all ($21.60)

Conditioner Bob Baffert is having another excellent meeting at this venue and will saddle a pair of runners, both of which I like in this spot. Grade 1 victor #2 Speed Boat Beach (5-2), winner of the 2023 Malibu S. (G1), will make his second run since that signature tally and is the inside speed of the field. The lightly raced son of Bayern has just an octet of lifetime runs to his credit and has room to improve going forward. 

The five-year-old was a debut winner in his lone prior run on the oval, and the Florida-bred has been training rapidly on the course as of late, as well. Go-to pilot Juan Hernandez will take the reins. 

Baffert is very ambitious in putting #4 Maymun (5-1) in this tough spot off the layoff since February of 2024, but I like the move from the standout conditioner. The $900,000 son of Frosted was impressive in going two-for-two as a sophomore, and the four-year-old has worked in swift fashion since June in advance of his comeback, as well. Kentucky-bred colt is obviously a wildcard off the extended break, but the distance seems right, and he wouldn’t be a surprise to me with Kimura in the stirrups. 

In a race full of pace, #7 Express Train (12-1) is intriguing to me at a big price under Hector Berrios. The John Shirreffs pupil is a three-time winner over the surface and could sit a nice trip from off the fast and contested pace to the top of the lane in the heat. I’m not sure if the eight-year-old has the turn of foot to win the race, but I will surely include him in the vertical exotics. 

2024 Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero #6 Stronghold (3-1) will make his first appearance following an unplaced journey in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) for smart layoff trainer Phil D’Amato. The Ghostzapper colt was a strong second in the Malibu S. (G1) in his latest seven-furlong venture and has trained steadily in advance of his return. The stalker will have Antonio Fresu in the silks. 

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