Raging Torrent hangs on in the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2)

2024 Pat O’Brien Stakes

Antonio Fresu celebrates aboard Raging Torrent after winning the 2024 Pat O’Brien Stakes

Date: 08/24/2024

The feature race at Del Mar on Saturday was the $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) for older horses sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track and is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Dirt Mile at Del Mar on November 2. Conditions were excellent at the seaside oval with the 12,024 fans in attendance enjoying sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70’s. A field of 8 went to post with The Chosen Vron sent off as the 1-2 favorite off a 6 race winning streak including the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) last out. In to challenge him included 4-1 second choice Senor Buscador, winner of the Saudi Cup (G1) before finishing a distant third in the Dubai World Cup (G1), and 9-2 third choice Raging Torrent, winner of the Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Raging Torrent leads in the stretch

Jockey Antonio Fresu sent Raging Torrent to the lead out of the chute and he set fractions of 22.56 and 44.96 while pressed by 75-1 longest shot Moose Mitchell and stalked by The Chosen Vron. Entering the stretch, The Chosen Vron came out 4 wide to gain a short lead through 3/4 in 1:08.74, but Raging Torrent fought back late to prevail by a neck in 1:21.17. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back to late-running 17-1 Big City Lights third.

Pgm  Horse                 Jockey        Win  Place  Show
 4   Raging Torrent      Fresu         10.80   3.60  3.20 
 6   The Chosen Vron     Berrios               2.40  2.10
 5   Big City Lights     Kimura                      5.00

Winning Time:  1:23.21

$1 Exacta 4-6                12.40
$2 Quinella 4-6               7.80
$1 Trifecta 4-6-5            51.70
$1 Superfecta 4-6-5-7       159.50

Left: Raging Torrent in the winner’s circle. Winning jockey Antonio Fresu said, “Well I tried to ride him as I did back in Churchill. He felt good. Obviously today he had more work to do as The Chosen Vron was there. But (Raging Torrent) is a fighter. I didn’t give him one touch. Once the horse showed me that he was fighting, I didn’t want to punish him, you know. He was keeping his head in front, and Doug is doing a great job with him. You know, it’s not easy to beat The Chosen Vron, which is the best horse in California but we did it. We always knew the horse was a good one.”

Right: Raging Torrent in the paddock before the race. Winning trainer Doug O’Neill said, “I didn’t know if we’d get that easy of a lead. Antonio had a lot of confidence and everything we dreamt about on paper worked out. Turning for home I was thinking maybe we got second but it didn’t look like anybody was moving in on us. I never thought he’d put away The Chosen Vron. That was pretty incredible.”

Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite The Chosen Vron in the paddock. Jockey Hector Berrios said, “He tried; no doubt. But maybe he came back a little too quick. He just ran here a few weeks ago (July 27) and this might have been too soon. He had to give the winner weight, too (125 – 118). That all adds up.”

Right: Third place finisher Big City Lights in the post parade. The Richard Mandella trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds in 11 starts, earning $446,420 for owner William Peeples.

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