Pure as Gold Makes Quick Return in Pat O'Brien

(from Del Mar notes)
By winning the Bing Crosby Handicap (gr. I) on July 30, Pure as Gold set the bar pretty high for himself and trainer Jack Carava in his first start after being claimed for $100,000 by Carava client La Canada Stables.

The Washington-bred gelding is back to try for another graded stakes win in Sunday's seven-furlong $300,000 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) on the main track, a race that is a furlong longer than the Crosby. In the aftermath of the grade I sprint victory, Carava wasn't planning a three-week turnaround to tackle a tough field in the O'Brien. But a half-mile work in :46 4/5 last Sunday, the best of 46 at the distance, turned Carava in the O'Brien direction.

Pure as Gold will tackle seven other sprinters in the supporting feature on the Pacific Classic (gr. I) card. The O'Brien will be run as the sixth race on the program, two events before Del Mar's seasonal signature event.

Also back from the Crosby will be third-place finisher Battle Won and Trickey Trevor, who came in fourth.

Freshest of the field is Siren Lure, winner of Hollywood Park's Triple Bend Handicap (gr. I) on July 2, a seven-furlong race in which Battle Won finished second. The O'Brien will be the third straight race on the dirt for Siren Lure, who is six for 10 lifetime on the turf. His only loss in five starts this year is to Pure as Gold – on the grass – in Santa Anita's San Simeon Handicap (gr. IIIT) April 22.

Siren Lure has won both of his starts on the main track, those wins coming in his most recent efforts. Siren Lure, trained by Art Sherman, won the Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III) prior to the Triple Bend.

Coming into the race from a four-week layoff is Declan's Moon, the 2004 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile male who has won five of six in his career. The Maryland-bred gelding suffered his first loss in his most recent start, an allowance/optional claiming race at Hollywood Park July 16. The 4-year-old gelding, owned by Jay Em Ess Stable of Mace and Samantha Siegel, was racing for the first time in 15 months and was beaten a nose by Desert Boom.

$300,000 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II, Race 6, 3:30 p.m.), 3 & Up, 7 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Siren Lure (KY), 122, Alex O. Solis
2. Areyoutalkintome (CA), 114, Martin Garcia
3. Trickey Trevor (FL), 117, Corey S. Nakatani
4. Yes He's a Pistol (FL), 114, David Cohen
5. Spellbinder (KY), 115, Norberto Arroyo, Jr.
6. Pure as Gold (WA), 116, Jon K. Court
7. Battle Won (KY), 114, Garrett K. Gomez
8. Declan's Moon (MD), 119, Victor Espinoza