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Obviously a rare repeat winner in American

Obviously set heated fractions on his way to victory (Benoit Photos) Obviously toyed with three rivals in a successful title defense of the Grade 3, $98,000 American on Saturday. Run for the first time at Santa Anita, the former Hollywood Park fixture had previously been won in consecutive years only by Bold Tropic (1980-81) since its inception in 1938. Takarian (1999, 2001) and The Tin Man (2002, 2006) were the only other multiple winners. A heavy 3-5 favorite after the defection of Frank E. Kilroe Mile hero Winning Prize, Obviously showed his customary speed from the start, withstood a brief challenge from Silentio down the backside, and cantered as he pleased to the wire under Joe Talamo. After ripping through splits of :22 3/5, :45 2/5 and 1:08 2/5, Obviously finished up a mile on firm turf in 1:33 2/5 and paid $3.40. "I knew we were rollin', but I was surprised with how fast we went," Talamo said. "He fooled me. I thought we went the three quarters in like 1:09. Believe it or not, he took about four or five breathers today."

Chips All In, rallied to finish a neck in front of Silentio for second, 5 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Smart Ellis trailed throughout. In addition to Winning Prize, Pure Tactics and Tigah were also scratched.

Obviously races for Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino. This was his first start for trainer Philip D'Amato, the former assistant to the now-retired Mike Mitchell.

Imported to the U.S. after winning two of his first three starts in Ireland, Obviously placed in a pair of turf sprint stakes at Hollywood in the summer of 2012, then finished off the year winning the Del Mar Mile and Arroyo Seco Mile before running third to Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Runner-up in the San Simeon in his 2013 debut, Obviously reeled off a three-win streak commencing with the American and followed by the Shoemaker Mile and Del Mar Mile. He was then fourth in the City of Hope Mile (formerly Arroyo Seco) and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Mile most recently. His record now stands at 19-10-4-2, $1,097,361.

"The plans are to run him in the Shoemaker Mile (on June 14)," D'Amato said. "We'll point to the Shoemaker, and maybe the Breeders' Cup Mile (on November 1)."

The son of sprint supremo Choisir gets some stamina from his dam, Leala, an unraced daughter of Montjeu. His second dam, the unraced Silver Hawk mare Silver Bubble, is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 star Hawkster, who set a new world record of 2:22 4/5 for 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in the 1989 Oak Tree Invitational; U.A.E. highweight older stayer Lightning Arrow; Group 1-placed French stakes victor Silver Kite; and French Group 3 queen Silver Lane, whose progeny include Japanese Grade 1 scorers Black Hawk and Pink Cameo.

Bred by Deidre Cogan in Ireland, Obviously was a bargain $2,578 yearling purchase at Goffs February.

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