Lightly raced sophomore Vertical Threat (Tapiture) takes on a hard-knocking group Saturday in Del Mar’s GII Pat O’Brien S., a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the furlong-longer GI Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile. Sixth in a Santa Anita turf sprint first up May 23, the $100,000 OBS April buy romped by six lengths at Los Alamitos June 27 and doubled up in similarly impressive fashion to add the restricted Smiling Tiger S. here July 25. The 92 Beyer Speed Figure he earned last out looks competitive considering fellow 3-year-old Collusion Illusion (Twirling Candy) annexed the Aug. 1 GI Bing Crosby S. with a 93. Third in that heat was Law Abidin Citizen (Twirling Candy).
Favored at 5-2 on the morning line is Flagstaff (Speightstown) for the powerful John Sadler barn. The 6-year-old’s 2020 campaign has included a victory in the GII San Carlos S. over this trip in March and a narrow second to Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. in April. He’s been off since finishing fourth in the GII Triple Bend S. in June, but has been working swiftly in preparation for this (See XBTV video of Aug. 22 breeze in which he finished clear of stablemate Shortlist {Congrats}, an optional claiming winner at the beginning of the month).
Seven-year-old Giant Expectations (Giant Surprise) hasn’t won since 2017, but his best effort would make him tough to beat. He took this event in the same year as his last victory, and was second by a head in it last term. He was last seen being eased after a slow start in the Dirt Mile Nov. 2.
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