Del Mar 2024: Dr. Venkman gets 1st stakes win in San Diego

Dr. Venkman pressured the early pace set by odds-on favorite Arabian Knight before taking over in the second turn on his way to a one-length win Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

A lightly raced, 4-year-old Ghostzapper gelding who had no wins and two seconds in two previous stakes, Dr. Venkman (3-1) stayed within a length of Arabian Knight (2-5) through the first half of the 1 1/16-mile race on the fast main track.

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A Grade 1 winner who was racing for the first time since he finished fourth for trainer Bob Baffert nearly nine months ago in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, 4-year-old Arabian Knight had nothing left for the last three furlongs. That left Dr. Venkman to be challenged by Katonah (20-1), who had been racing in mid-pack in the field of five horses ages 3 and up.

Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Dr. Venkman responded by maintaining his lead to the finish, registering a winning time of 1:43.36 after early fractions of 23.06, 46.95, 1:11.09 and 1:36.73.

Katonah finished second, Express Train (6-1) was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third, Arabian Knight fourth and Newgrange (6-1) fifth.

Dr. Venkman paid $8.20, $5.40 and $5.20; Katonah $15.40 and $11.00; and Express Train $6.60.

Owned by Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen and James Hailey and trained by Mark Glatt, Dr. Venkman is a 4-year-old Ghostzapper gelding who was sold for $105,000 nearly three years ago at the Keeneland September yearling sale.