{"id":75938,"date":"2026-08-07T23:39:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=75938"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:39:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:39:52","slug":"beyond-the-wire-pat-oryan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=75938","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the Wire Pat O’Ryan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Where every race has a story.<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Easy Speed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourteen Sprinters Chase the Pat O\u2019Ryan Handicap<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

California \u2014 Sunday, August 9, 2026<\/strong>
Grade II \/ Group 2 \u2014 $375,000<\/strong>
7 Furlongs \u2014 Fast Dirt \u2014 3-Year-Olds & Older<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven furlongs occupies a funny place in racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is too long to simply break fast, hold your breath, and hope the wire arrives in time. Yet it is too short to surrender five or six lengths without trusting that the horses in front of you will eventually come back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is what makes Sunday\u2019s Grade II Pat O\u2019Ryan Handicap<\/strong> so interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourteen runners arrive in California by very different roads. There are seasoned veterans with more than thirty starts behind them, four-year-olds still discovering how good they might become, graded winners looking to rekindle their best form, and former claimers who have climbed far enough up the ladder to earn a place in a $375,000 event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there is the pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several runners want to be involved early. Others would be perfectly happy watching that fight unfold from a safe distance before beginning their charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At seven furlongs, somebody is going to get the trip they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is who.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

#1 FOREST CITY BOBCAT (10\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Old Warrior<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> ridgecrest
Pedigree:<\/strong> Majestic City \u00d7 Forest Wildcat \u00d7 Damascus
Running Style:<\/strong> Deep Closer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirty-seven starts. Fourteen victories. More than $824,000<\/strong> earned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forest City Bobcat has been around long enough to know that races rarely unfold exactly as planned. The six-year-old gelding has built most of his career sprinting on dirt, winning twelve times at sprint distances and capturing both graded and stakes company along the way. His strongest weapon has always been patience. He routinely settles well off the early leaders before trying to pick his way through the field late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His recent form has been uneven, but there are signs that the old warrior still has something left. He closed to finish third over this exact seven-furlong trip in Kentucky in June, and earlier this year was beaten only half a length in the Grade II Florida BB Sprint Championship. That effort proved he remains capable of competing with graded sprinters when the race develops in his favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With plenty of early speed signed on Sunday, he may finally get the setup he wants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Can the veteran turn a hot pace into one more memorable late charge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

#2 MUSIC RUNNER (8\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Home-Track Tune<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> luckyracer
Pedigree:<\/strong> Maclean\u2019s Music \u00d7 Gun Runner \u00d7 Malibu Moon
Running Style:<\/strong> Tactical Stalker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music Runner could not arrive in better spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six-year-old returns to the same California dirt and seven-furlong distance where he scored a sharp allowance victory on July 3, earning a 111 speed figure<\/strong> while sitting just behind the leaders before taking command late. That effort followed another strong performance over California turf and suggests this veteran may be rediscovering his best form at precisely the right moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven of his career victories have come on dirt, with six of those at sprint distances, and his pedigree offers an appealing blend of speed and toughness. Maclean\u2019s Music provides the obvious sprint influence, while Gun Runner and Malibu Moon add enough substance to make seven furlongs an attractive assignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He does not have to control the race. In fact, his best trip may come while others fight for that privilege. If Music Runner can settle into the second flight and reproduce the finish he showed last month, he becomes very dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Can the home-track specialist turn recent momentum into another California victory?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#3 REGARD THE CHULL (19\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Young Gun<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> sremel58
Pedigree:<\/strong> Instilled Regard \u00d7 It\u2019s A Danzig \u00d7 Indian Charlie
Running Style:<\/strong> Pace Presser<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regard the Chull may be one of the least experienced horses in the field, but ten career starts have already produced five victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is difficult to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year-old has spent his entire career sprinting and has developed into a horse who likes to stay close to the action. He generally races within a length or two of the early lead, applying pressure rather than waiting for someone else to make the first move. That approach produced a stakes victory at 6\u00bd furlongs in May and a solid third in the Grade III Anthem Stakes most recently, where he battled throughout and missed by only a length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His class test gets considerably tougher Sunday, but he has spent the spring proving that each new challenge is not beyond him. The Instilled Regard\u2013Indian Charlie combination also gives him a pedigree suited to dirt racing with enough speed to remain effective around one turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 19\/1, he is one of the more intriguing younger runners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Is this the afternoon Regard the Chull proves his rise through the sprint ranks has only begun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#4 SENSE OF CANDY (13\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Versatile Traveler<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> chips2
Pedigree:<\/strong> Street Sense \u00d7 Candy Ride \u00d7 War Front
Running Style:<\/strong> Mid-Pack Stalker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sense of Candy has tried a little bit of everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sprint distances. Routes. Dirt. Turf. Allowance company. Stakes races. Even Grade I competition as a three-year-old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through it all, the four-year-old has collected five victories and developed into the kind of runner who can adapt to whatever is happening in front of him. His most recent appearance came in the Grade II Billy and Jimmy Stakes at seven furlongs, where he raced from mid-pack and finished a respectable fourth, beaten fewer than three lengths. That is an encouraging effort heading into another race at the same distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His pedigree is particularly appealing for this assignment. Street Sense and Candy Ride supply plenty of dirt ability, while War Front adds another layer of athleticism. Sense of Candy does not need to dictate terms; he can settle, watch the early battle develop, and begin improving his position when the field approaches the turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He may not command the headlines, but he belongs in the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Can his versatility turn into a breakthrough graded performance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

#5 PROBABLY NEEDED (6\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Late Arrival<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> grtnotion
Pedigree:<\/strong> Essential Quality \u00d7 Candy Ride \u00d7 Tiznow
Running Style:<\/strong> Deep Closer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probably Needed has spent much of his career proving there is more than one path to graded company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six-year-old has raced 34 times<\/strong>, including appearances in claiming races, allowance events, stakes competition, and now repeatedly against graded sprinters. His preferred approach could not be clearer: let everyone else worry about the first half of the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probably Needed routinely settles near the back before beginning one long, sustained charge. That style produced a strong third in the Grade II Foolish Tom on July 4, when he rallied from thirteenth to finish only a length behind the winner while earning a 111 speed figure<\/strong>. He used a similar late run to finish third in the Grade III Back Back Handicap in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The win column has been quiet recently, but his current form is considerably better than that statistic suggests. If the front-runners turn Sunday\u2019s seven furlongs into a battle for survival, Probably Needed may be the one enjoying the view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Will there be enough early heat to unleash one of the field\u2019s most dangerous closing kicks?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#6 JAKE PLUMMER (23\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Climber<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> jmsstable
Pedigree:<\/strong> Practical Joke \u00d7 More Than Ready \u00d7 Hennessy
Running Style:<\/strong> Tactical Stalker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There may not be a better example in this field of a horse earning his way upward than Jake Plummer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year-old gelding has won nine of nineteen starts<\/strong>, but his journey has included claiming races, starter allowances, and ordinary allowance company rather than a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 filled with graded trophies. That makes Sunday\u2019s Grade II assignment easily the biggest opportunity of his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet look at what he has done recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jake Plummer has won his last two starts at 6\u00bd furlongs, including an impressive five-and-a-half-length allowance victory in Maryland in June. Rather than relying on blazing early speed, he has learned to settle behind the first wave before accelerating when the leaders begin to tire. His Practical Joke\u2013More Than Ready pedigree certainly gives him every right to continue thriving as a dirt sprinter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The jump in class is real. So is the confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 23\/1, bettors are being compensated for the risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> How high can a former claimer climb when he\u2019s winning races this easily?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#7 STORMY WAR FRONT (6\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Comeback Threat<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> dkstables28
Pedigree:<\/strong> War Front \u00d7 Seeking the Gold \u00d7 Storm Cat
Running Style:<\/strong> Tactical Stalker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stormy War Front comes into the Pat O\u2019Ryan with something every trainer wants to see beside a horse\u2019s name: a recent victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six-year-old returned to the winner\u2019s circle in New York on July 5, sitting just behind the leader before taking command and earning a sharp 113 speed figure<\/strong>. That performance looked much more like the horse who captured the Grade II Billy and Jimmy Stakes last season and the Grade III Ice Luge Stakes before that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seventeen of his twenty-three starts have come at sprint distances, producing all seven of his career victories. He has enough speed to remain close without demanding the lead, which could be especially valuable Sunday with several committed front-runners drawn around him. If others get impatient, Stormy War Front can wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Grade II credentials are already established. The challenge now is showing that last month\u2019s victory represented a genuine return to his best rather than simply a favorable afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Has Stormy War Front rediscovered the form that once made him one of the division\u2019s toughest sprinters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#8 BIOEYE (14\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Almost Horse<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> enjoyment
Pedigree:<\/strong> Speightstown \u00d7 Deputy Minister \u00d7 Storm Bird
Running Style:<\/strong> Pace Presser \/ Stalker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four wins may not leap off the page, but Bioeye\u2019s record tells a much more interesting story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The five-year-old has finished in the money in 14 of 21 starts<\/strong>, including six third-place finishes and four runner-up efforts. He has spent much of his career knocking on the door, particularly over sprint distances, and his three most recent starts have all resulted in second-place finishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most recently, Bioeye was beaten only a head over seven furlongs in Kentucky after racing prominently throughout. Earlier he chased the pace at 7\u00bd furlongs before again settling for second. His Speightstown pedigree gives him all the sprint credentials anyone could ask for, and he possesses enough tactical speed to either press the leaders or sit immediately behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday represents a significant class test, but horses that consistently place themselves in contention always deserve respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps this is finally the afternoon when one of those near misses becomes something bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> After so many close calls, can Bioeye turn consistency into the biggest victory of his career?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#9 CHANGE IN A SINE (11\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Proven Winner<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> cajunboy2
Pedigree:<\/strong> Union Rags \u00d7 Midnight Lute \u00d7 Danzig
Running Style:<\/strong> Front Runner \/ Pace Presser<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine victories from twenty-one starts tell you Change In A Sine knows how to finish the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year-old colt enjoyed a tremendous sophomore campaign, winning three consecutive stakes or graded races during the second half of 2025, including the Grade II Action Hero Stakes and Grade III Select Bud. At his best, he uses his natural speed to stay close to the lead\u2014or simply take it himself\u2014and force everyone else to react.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His 2026 campaign has been more difficult. Grade I and Grade II competition exposed a few vulnerabilities, and most recently he set the pace in the Grade III Anthem Stakes before fading to sixth. Still, that same running line demonstrates the weapon he brings to California: legitimate early speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is whether he can ration it effectively for seven furlongs against a field with other horses willing to engage early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 11\/1, you\u2019re betting on proven ability returning at exactly the right time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Can Change In A Sine rediscover the winning form that made him one of last year\u2019s most exciting young sprinters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#10 GOLDSTAR AGGRESSOR (29\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hot Hand<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> fury
Pedigree:<\/strong> Violence \u00d7 Deputy Minister \u00d7 Seeking the Gold
Running Style:<\/strong> Deep Closer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The longest price in the field happens to belong to the horse carrying the longest active winning streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goldstar Aggressor enters the Pat O\u2019Ryan having won three consecutive allowance races<\/strong>, and the most encouraging part has been how he has done it. In his last two starts he settled near the rear, gradually improved his position, and then finished with purpose to win going away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year-old is stepping into graded company for the first time, so the 29\/1 morning line reflects a very real jump in difficulty. But winning breeds confidence, and Goldstar Aggressor has spent the spring learning exactly what his late kick can accomplish. His most recent victory came from tenth early before he swept past the field to win by two lengths at 6\u00bd furlongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven furlongs may give him even more time to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The competition is dramatically stronger, but this is precisely the sort of horse the Equinics reminder applies to: respect what he has earned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Can three straight victories provide enough momentum to produce the upset of the afternoon?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#11 MONDAY NIGHT WAR (8\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Surface Switcher<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> speedkills
Pedigree:<\/strong> Zoustar \u00d7 More Than Ready \u00d7 Danzig
Running Style:<\/strong> Deep Closer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday Night War built most of his reputation on turf, but his recent dirt efforts suggest the five-year-old may have discovered another path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eighteen of his twenty-one career starts have come on grass, producing all five of his victories and more than half a million dollars in earnings. Yet in April he switched to dirt in China and came charging from twelfth to finish second, beaten only half a length while posting an excellent 113 speed figure<\/strong>. He followed that with a respectable fifth in the Grade III Back Back Handicap over a sloppy California surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes him one of the most interesting runners in Sunday\u2019s field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will not participate in the early scramble. Monday Night War prefers to settle well behind the pace and make one decisive run late. A dry surface and seven furlongs give him the opportunity to prove his dirt form was no accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Is a turf specialist quietly becoming a serious dirt sprinter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#12 PADDINGTON GREEN (7\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Old Professional<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> dawnrun
Pedigree:<\/strong> Kingman \u00d7 Quality Road \u00d7 Tapit
Running Style:<\/strong> Mid-Pack Closer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paddington Green has traveled a long road from his British birthplace to becoming a dependable American dirt runner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six-year-old gelding owns eight career victories and has repeatedly shown his ability around seven furlongs. Last fall he captured the Or Not Two Punch Dirt Dash, and his most recent start produced a strong runner-up finish at a mile after he settled in mid-pack and continued grinding all the way to the wire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His pedigree is an unusual but fascinating mix for a dirt sprinter. Kingman brings elite European turf speed, while Quality Road and Tapit provide all the American dirt credentials needed to explain why Paddington Green ultimately found his best surface away from the grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is neither a committed front-runner nor a deep closer. Instead, he generally allows the race to develop before gradually working his way into contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That professionalism matters in crowded fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Can experience and patience put Paddington Green in the right place when the real running begins?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#13 UNCONTROLLABLE JR (6\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Closer With a Kick<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> horizons3
Pedigree:<\/strong> Omaha Beach \u00d7 A.P. Indy \u00d7 Alydar
Running Style:<\/strong> Deep Closer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No horse in the field produced a more dramatic most recent victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June\u2019s Coal Miners Stakes, Uncontrollable Jr was fourteenth early<\/strong>, thirteen lengths back at the second call, and still eleventh approaching the decisive stage of the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then he came running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six-year-old swept past the field to win by a quarter-length while earning a 114 speed figure<\/strong>, one of the strongest recent numbers among Sunday\u2019s entrants. It was hardly an isolated performance. His career is filled with races where he concedes substantial ground early before beginning a relentless charge through the stretch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight victories from twenty-one starts demonstrate that the strategy works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The risk is obvious. Deep closers require cooperation from the horses in front of them. But this field contains enough pace-oriented runners that Uncontrollable Jr may get exactly the race he wants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he is within striking distance turning for home, watch out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Can one of the field\u2019s most explosive late runners make fourteen-to-first happen again?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#14 PINO OREGON (10\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catch Me If You Can<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner:<\/strong> locales6
Pedigree:<\/strong> Flower Alley \u00d7 Mind Your Biscuits \u00d7 Saint Liam
Running Style:<\/strong> Front Runner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is absolutely no mystery about Pino Oregon\u2019s game plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again and again, the South African-bred colt has broken sharply, taken command, and challenged the rest of the field to come get him. Six victories from fourteen starts include the Grade II Billy and Jimmy Stakes this spring, where he controlled every call and held on to win over seven furlongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is the exact trip he will be trying to reproduce Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most recently, Pino Oregon attempted the same strategy in the Grade I Three Bender. He led through the first three calls before tiring to fifth, but even that defeat demonstrated how dangerous his natural speed can be against elite company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outside draw adds another wrinkle. He will need to establish position without using too much energy, particularly with Regard the Chull and Change In A Sine capable of showing speed inside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he clears them, however, the race changes dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race-Day Question:<\/strong> Can Pino Oregon take them all the way from gate to wire?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

How the Race Sets Up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This may ultimately come down to one question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much does Pino Oregon have to work to get the lead?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He appears to be the field\u2019s most committed front-runner, but Change In A Sine<\/strong> and Regard the Chull<\/strong> possess enough natural speed to ensure he probably will not simply stroll through the opening fractions. Bioeye<\/strong> can also sit close, while Music Runner<\/strong> and Stormy War Front<\/strong> should be ideally positioned immediately behind that first group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That creates a potentially attractive setup for the closers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probably Needed<\/strong>, Forest City Bobcat<\/strong>, Goldstar Aggressor<\/strong>, Monday Night War<\/strong>, and especially Uncontrollable Jr<\/strong> will be hoping the early leaders spend just a little too much energy sorting themselves out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seven-furlong distance complicates matters. Closers cannot afford to wait forever, while front-runners cannot attack the opening quarter as though this were five furlongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whoever gets the timing right may win the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Beyond the Wire Selections<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd47<\/strong> STORMY WAR FRONT (6\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recent 113-speed-figure victory is difficult to ignore, and his tactical style may give him the best trip in the entire field. He does not need the lead and should get first run on the closers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd48<\/strong> UNCONTROLLABLE JR (6\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That 114 last time was impressive, particularly considering how far back he came from. If the pace develops the way it appears on paper, he could be flying late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd49<\/strong> PINO OREGON (10\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wild card. He already owns a Grade II victory at this exact distance and has one enormous tactical advantage: everybody knows where he\u2019ll be. If nobody pressures him enough early, they may never catch him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not a race built around one superstar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That may be exactly what makes it so appealing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are old warriors trying to summon one more big performance, improving four-year-olds attempting to prove they belong, former claimers who have climbed farther than anyone once expected, and accomplished graded runners searching for another trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourteen horses will break from the gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some will chase the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some will wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And somewhere during those seven demanding furlongs, one of their stories will change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pat O\u2019Ryan Handicap doesn\u2019t offer any easy speed\u2014and it certainly doesn\u2019t offer an easy winner.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the Wire<\/strong>
Where every race has a story.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll see you at the wire.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Where every race has a story. No Easy Speed Fourteen Sprinters Chase the Pat O\u2019Ryan Handicap California \u2014 Sunday, August<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7109,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=75938"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75938\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75946,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75938\/revisions\/75946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=75938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=75938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=75938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}