How to bet the 2021 Pat O'Brien Stakes

C Z Rocket winning a Churchill Downs allowance race (Photo by Coady Photography)

August 27th, 2021

A Breeders’ Cup berth is on the line in Saturday’s $200,000 Pat O’Brien S. (G2) at Del Mar on Saturday. The “Win and You’re In” contest attracted an excellent field of 10 in a challenging betting event, and I like a longshot to take home the trophy.

I am going to look outside the box in the seven-furlong tilt and side with Mike Maker’s #4 Mo Mosa (10-1) at a fine price. The talented Uncle Mo four-year-old has really upped his game in 2021 and comes into his toughest race to date while in superb form. The Kentucky-bred was a sharp winner of the Steve Sexton Mile (G3) at Lone Star two back, prior to finishing a creditable fourth behind a trio of the top horses on the grounds in the San Diego H. (G2) last time out.

Mo Mosa and @JockeyRamonVazq head to the Winner’s Circle after getting the victory in the G3, Steve Sexton Mile on Memorial Day at Lone Star Park. pic.twitter.com/46UCSFiHJT
— Lone Star Park (@lonestarpark) June 1, 2021

Mo Mosa has never been better, and I feel that the cutback in trip will be ideal for his running style as he makes a second run off the layoff. The tactical sort has trained well as of late, and I expect him to get a really good trip while tracking the pace from a few lengths back in the early going. Ramon Vazquez retains the mount.

Morning-line choice #9 C Z Rocket (5-2) gets a tough draw, but is always a threat for Peter Miller. The City Zip gelding had been first or second in nine straight prior to his head third in the Bing Crosby S. (G1) last time out, and he won this race in 2020 as well. The seven-year-old will have Florent Geroux in the stirrups.

#5 C Z Rocket (1/1) gets up to win the Pat O’Brien at Del Mar pic.twitter.com/WxLPcf1G2s
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 30, 2020

Churchill Downs S. (G1) victor #8 Flagstaff (3-1) was runner-up in the event last campaign for Sadler. The gelded son of Speightstown has never run a bad one and sports a superb 6-4-1-0 mark at Del Mar. Joe Bravo will pilot the dark bay.

#1 Ginobili (6-1) is taking a massive class hike for Baltas, but the Munnings gelding ran off the screen with the addition of blinkers last time in a first-level allowance tilt. He came back to work a rapid half-mile since. I do not love his price, but I feel compelled to use him in the exotics after his latest.