Dr. Venkman answers distance question in San Diego; Arabian Knight fourth

A lightly-raced four-year-old starred in Saturday’s $300,000 San Diego H. (G2) at Del Mar, but it wasn’t 2-5 favorite Arabian Knight. The other contender with that profile, the 3.10-1 Dr. Venkman, dueled Arabian Knight into submission and aced his first attempt at a route. Arabian Knight, making his belated seasonal reappearance, ultimately retreated to fourth.

Trained by Mark Glatt for Dan J. Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen, and James Hailey, Dr. Venkman had yet to race beyond seven furlongs. But the Ghostzapper gelding proved more than capable in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, under a well-judged ride by Antonio Fresu.

Dr. Venkman showed speed from the gate, forcing Arabian Knight to engage more gears to clear him and establish the lead. Then Dr. Venkman kindly switched off into a tracking role through fractions of :23.06 and :46.95.

Fresu asked Dr. Venkman to re-engage entering the far turn, and he kicked on again to accost Arabian Knight. The favorite was soon in trouble. Carrying top weight of 124 pounds, and spotting Dr. Venkman six pounds, he had no response. Dr. Venkman headed Arabian Knight passing six furlongs in 1:11.09 and pulled away.

An unexpected challenger emerged in Katonah, the 20-1 longest shot on the board, who picked up well off a year-long absence. Dr. Venkman found more to hold Katonah safe by one length, clocking 1:43.36 to earn his first stakes victory.

Express Train, the winner of the 2021 San Diego, closed mildly for third, another 3 3/4 lengths back. Arabian Knight crossed the wire a further half-length adrift, and Newgrange trailed. Subsanador, who was expected to be involved in the early pace, was scratched.

Dr. Venkman’s scorecard now stands at 5-3-2-0, $358,500. Debuting here in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden last summer, the bay swept from just off the pace to romp by more than five lengths. He worked out a very similar trip, and nearly the identical margin, when following up in a seven-furlong allowance. Dr. Venkman shipped to Keeneland for the Oct. 21 Perryville S. and missed by just a head to Raise Cain.

In his comeback in the June 1 Triple Bend (G2) at Santa Anita, Dr. Venkman was runner-up again, but beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Happy Jack. The step up in trip for the San Diego, and moving forward second off the bench, combined to produce a breakthrough, and to open up more options for the talented performer.

Bred by Ghostzapper Syndicate and Hidden Brook Farm in Kentucky, Dr. Venkman sold for $105,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is the second stakes winner out of the Archarcharch mare Theory of Change, who is also responsible for Tranche. Theory of Change is herself a half-sister to Grade 2 scorer So Long George and to multiple Grade 2-placed stakes victress America America.