Obviously repeats under top weight in Del Mar Mile

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.

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.