Obviously better, at long last
Obviously tried and tried to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Then he tried again. And again. He finished third the first time, in 2012 at Santa Anita, then struggled home fifth, fifth and finally ninth last year.
Trainer Phil D’Amato, who took over for the late Mike Mitchell after the second miss, decided to try something different after two more. He entered Obviously, an 8year-old gelding, in the Turf Sprint on Saturday at Santa Anita. Finally, success. Obviously took the lead leaving the starting gate and held on to beat the fast-charging Om by a long nose to give D’Amato his first Breeders’ Cup victory. As the 7-2 favorite, he returned $9.60 after running about 6½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:11.33.
He also made history as the second-oldest horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race. Only Calidoscopio, who was 9 when he won the since-discontinued Marathon in 2012, was older. No other 8-year-old has won; in fact, only three 7-year-olds reached the winner’s circle.
“At 8 years old, he’s a marvel,” co-owner Joseph Scardino said.
“Well, it’s one for the old guys,” co-owner Anthony Fanticola added. “I can tell you he doesn’t know he’s 8.”
D’Amato said the decision to switch races was just a matter of trying to “change it up.”
Obviously is the fifth horse to run in five Breeders’ Cups, and the only one to do it in different races. Three of the other four also won (Better Talk Now, California Flag and Kona Gold), although none waited until the last try.
Easy game?
Ian Kruljac needed only one Breeders’ Cup start to get his first victory. The 28-year-old Kruljac is in his first year as a trainer, with three horses in his stable and one previous victory.
Finest City, a 4-year-old City Zip filly who provided that victory in April in the Great Lady M at Los Alamitos, defeated defending champion Wavell Avenue in the Filly & Mare Sprint on Saturday.
“I’m just happy I didn’t mess her up,” said Kruljac, the son of trainer Eric Kruljac.
Lady Eli just misses
Only two Europe-based horses won Cup races this weekend, and one ruined a storybook finish.
Lady Eli, the Juvenile Turf Fillies champion two years ago who nearly died last year from laminitis, was favored to win the Filly & Mare Turf. She raced furiously through the stretch but lost by a nose to Queen’s Trust, an English-bred ridden by Frankie Dettori.
“I was thrilled the way she ran,” said Chad Brown, Lady Eli’s trainer. “. . . Naturally, I'm disappointed, but still very proud of her.”
The other European horse to win was Irish-bred Highland Reel in the Turf.