West Coast sprinters will get a little added distance Saturday in the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar. The $250,000 stakes did not attract any of the top three finishers from the Grade 1, six-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes on July 26 at Del Mar, creating a competitive field and that should offer wagering value in several starters.

The winner of the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien will earn an expenses-paid starting spot in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

1. Dr. Venkman: Was fourth in the Bing Crosby and might be closer here against slightly weaker company and with a ground-saving trip.

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Mark Glatt

2. Speed Boat Beach: Faded badly in his first start in four months after a Grade 1 win at seven furlongs to close out 2024. Workouts indicate he should benefit from that start and return to top form here.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

3. Spirit of Makena: He faded to eighth in the Bing Crosby and has not won a stakes since 2023. Not a lot to like here.

JOCKEY: Mirco Demuro; TRAINER: George Papaprodromou

4. Maymun: Undefeated for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in two tries but has not raced since February 2024. He will very likely need a start to reach stakes-winning form.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

5. Awesome Rhythm: Won his last two starts but has been running in claimers and starter-allowance races. Seems like a big step up in class for him.

JOCKEY: Armando Ayuso; TRAINER: Victor Garcia

Grade 1 winner Stronghold (Eclipse Sportswire)

6. Stronghold: Won the Santa Anita Derby a year ago, but has not raced since January when he was 10^th in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. This looks like a prep for a longer stakes but he has enough class to figure in the exotics.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

7. Express Train: Another router cutting back in distance. He’s earned $1.6 million but is winless since March 2022. This seems like an unlikely spot to break that streak.

JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: John Shirreffs

8. Tapalo: Winless for more than a year. He returned from an 11-month layoff with a sixth-place finish in an allowance-optional claimer. Hard to see him making enough improvement to be a main threat here.

JOCKEY: Abel Lezcano; TRAINER: John Sadler

9. Man O Rose: Makes his 2025 debut after a second in the Cary Grant Stakes on this track in November. California-bred is a newcomer to graded stakes company and seems suspect at this level.

JOCKEY: Edwin Maldonado; TRAINER: Jeff Mullins

THE PICK: Speed Boat Beach

LIVE LONGSHOT: Man O Rose

SUPERFECTA: 2-6-1-4