The countdown is on for the Pat Obrien Stakes 2025, one of the most anticipated highlights of the Del Mar horse racing calendar. Scheduled for this Saturday, the $250,000 Grade II sprint over seven furlongs not only carries rich prestige but also offers a coveted “Win & You’re In” ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on November 1, 2025.
Fans are expected to pack the grandstands at “the place where the turf meets the surf,” where the focus will be on Speed Boat Beach, the lightning-fast Del Mar track record holder, making a much-anticipated comeback after a long injury setback. With Bob Baffert calling the shots and Juan Hernandez taking the reins, expectations are sky-high for a performance that could define the summer racing season.
Speed Boat Beach Chases Redemption at Del Mar
The Pat Obrien Stakes 2025 marks a crucial chapter in the comeback journey of Speed Boat Beach. Owned by the powerful partnership of Pegram, Watson, and Weitman, the 5-year-old son of Bayern still holds Del Mar’s 5½-furlong record of 1:01.86.
After missing the entire 2024 season due to injury, Speed Boat Beach returned in May at Churchill Downs but struggled, fading late and requiring assistance off the track. Since then, Baffert has carefully managed his conditioning, drilling him steadily at Santa Anita and Del Mar to rebuild confidence and stamina. Saturday’s race offers the perfect stage for redemption — and a potential ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Stronghold, Maymun & Others Add Depth
While Speed Boat Beach dominates headlines, the Pat Obrien Stakes 2025 field is stacked with talent. Stronghold, trained by Phil D’Amato, brings consistency and class, boasting more than $1.1 million in earnings. The Ghostzapper colt returns after a seven-month layoff and will be partnered with Antonio Fresu, a jockey who knows him well.
Then there’s the wildcard — Maymun. Trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Zedan Racing Stables, the lightly raced 4-year-old has flashed brilliance in limited starts. Purchased for $900,000, the Frosted colt won both his early 2024 outings before injury sidelined him for 18 months. With Kazushi Kimura aboard and strong morning works under his belt, Maymun has the potential to cause an upset in his first graded stakes test.
Full Field for the 40th Pat Obrien Stakes 2025
Nine contenders line up for Saturday’s feature sprint at Del Mar:
Post | Horse | Jockey | Odds
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Dr. Venkman — Umberto Rispoli — 4/1
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Speed Boat Beach — Juan Hernandez — 5/2 (Favorite)
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Spirit of Makena — Mirco Demuro — 20/1
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Maymun — Kazushi Kimura — 5/1
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Awesome Rhythm — Armando Ayuso — 20/1
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Stronghold — Antonio Fresu — 3/1
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Express Train — Hector I. Berrios — 12/1
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Tapalo — Abel Lezcano — 12/1
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Man O Rose — Edwin Maldonado — 8/1
The Pat O’Brien Stakes will be Race 9 on a 10-race Saturday card, with the first post scheduled at 2:00 p.m. and the feature set to go off at 6:00 p.m.
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