Obviously repeats under top weight in Del Mar Mile

Obviously dug deep to fend off He Be Fire N Ice, extending his record at a mile to six-for-seven (Benoit Photos)

Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino’s Obviously successfully defended his
title in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000
Del Mar
Mile Handicap, despite getting away a tad slowly and shouldering the top
weight of 125 pounds. Recovering quickly for regular rider Joe Talamo, the 1-5
favorite took over his customary spot on the front end and repelled late
challenges from He Be Fire N Ice and Silentio to extend his winning streak to
three.

Last year’s Del Mar Mile served as a breakthrough performance for Obviously,
who earned his first stakes victory in course record-setting fashion. The Mike
Mitchell charge opened up a big lead through wicked splits and just lasted by a
desperate nose from Mr. Commons.

On Sunday, Obviously didn’t go quite as fast, but he also didn’t cut it
nearly so close at the wire. When the Irish-bred gelding left the gate in his
own good time, that allowed the quick-starting El Commodore to sprint to the
fore. But Obviously wasn’t about to concede the lead, and he raced past his pace
rival through an opening quarter in :23 1/5.

Obviously, who has learned how to ration his speed with maturity, posted
fractions of :46 4/5 and 1:09 3/5 — considerably more reasonable than his
hair-raising tempo of :45 2/5 and 1:08 4/5 in the 2012 Del Mar Mile. El
Commodore continued to give chase, while Silentio hovered in third, and John
Sadler’s duo of Tigah and He Be Fire N Ice settled at the rear of the short
field.

Silentio (far left) ran a strong third in his return from a four-month holiday (Benoit Photos)

With this fifth career stakes victory to his credit, Obviously sports a mark
of 16-9-4-2, $968,347. The bay was initially trained by Peter Fahey in Ireland,
where he raced three times, all at seven furlongs. Sixth after rearing up at the
start of his career debut at Gowran in the summer of 2011, he won his next pair,
a maiden at Cork and a handicap over the Polytrack at Dundalk. The smart
prospect then sold for $217,635 at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training
Sale and arrived in Southern California for 2012.

After just missing in his American debut in a downhill sprint at Santa Anita,
he scored narrowly over the same about 6 1/2-furlong course. Obviously placed in
his ensuing three sprint attempts at Hollywood Park, most notably in the Cool
Frenchy over the Cushion Track and in the Robert K. Kerlan Memorial on turf.

Mitchell subsequently stretched him out to a mile for an optional claimer at
Del Mar, and Obviously was a revelation, romping by five lengths in near
course-record time. That was the beginning of a three-race winning streak,
comprising the Del Mar Mile and the October 6 Arroyo Seco Mile at Santa Anita.
He next finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile to Horse of the Year Wise Dan
and champion Animal Kingdom, his only career loss at this distance.

Reverting to a turf sprint for his comeback in the April 20 San Simeon at
Santa Anita, Obviously set scorching fractions, and was still clear in
midstretch, only to be collared by Chips All In in the final strides. He was
back in his element at a mile in the May 25 American Handicap, taking the race
in his typical wire-to-wire style, and he earned his first Grade 1 title in the
Shoemaker Mile last time out at Hollywood on June 29.