Obviously hangs on to set course record in Del Mar Mile

Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino's Obviously made no secret stratagems

for Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000

Del Mar

Mile Handicap. A front-running conqueror of an optional claimer in his first

try at a mile on August 2, the Mike Mitchell charge was obviously going to tear

off once again, and the wagering public sent him off as the even-money favorite

in expectation of another wire job. Obviously just succeeded, barely hanging on

by a desperate nose from the flying Mr. Commons, in a course-record time of

1:32.10.

Obviously had flirted with a course record when romping by five lengths last

time out, speeding the mile in 1:32 2/5. This time, however, the four-year-old

gelding had to run a stronger field off its collective feet.

The race went largely according to plan. Obviously had no difficulty in

grabbing the lead, clearing the field from the outside post, and angling over to

the fence through an opening quarter in :22 3/5 on the firm turf. Down the

backstretch, the exuberant front runner reeled off a half-mile in :45 2/5,

pulling under jockey Joe Talamo while opening up by five lengths. Meanwhile, the

newly-blinkered Mr. Commons was unhurried at the tail of the field, as many as 8

1/2 lengths behind the leader.

Obviously continued his imperious sway through six furlongs in 1:08 4/5, and

motored into the stretch with a full head of steam. Mr. Commons was beginning to

unwind, but seemed to have a tall order to catch the pacesetter.

Passing the eighth-pole, the complexion of the race changed. Obviously was

shortening stride a bit after sizzling seven furlongs in 1:20 1/5, and Mr.

Commons was in full flight. The closer was gaining ground hand over fist, and

the question was whether the wire would come in time to save the front runner.

Obviously dug in gamely, reached for the wire, and earned a landmark first

stakes victory. His final time shaved .11 off the former record of 1:32.21

established by Three Valleys in this race in 2005.

"He was more keen with me today than the other day," Talamo said, comparing

his two efforts at a mile. "But that was good. I needed every inch to get it

done. He just ran outstanding. He's a really good horse. At the sixteenth-pole I

could hear that other horse (Mr. Commons) coming. Good thing I still had a

little bit left in the tank."

"No instructions to Joe, he knows the horse," Mitchell said. "He felt he

needed to open up like he did and, so be it, he's a good horseman. From the

eighth-pole home I saw that other horse coming at me and said 'ugh,' but it was

a good horse race."

Mitchell, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor earlier this summer, was

asked how he is feeling.

"Feeling fine -- this will help," the trainer responded.

Brice Blanc, the rider of Mr. Commons, felt the near-miss.

"Tough one -- he really leveled and ran the last part very well," Blanc said.

"We've been working on that in the mornings, working to get him to finish

better. He did today. I could tell I was beaten. I was hoping we'd get there,

but not quite."

The top two were well clear of the rest. Another 4 3/4 lengths astern in

third came Jeranimo, followed by Norvsky, Calimonco and Tale of a Champion.

Obviously, who returned $4.20, $3.40 and $2.40, sports a mark of 10-5-3-1,

$270,347. The bay was originally based with 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 last summer, 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. After just missing in his

American debut in a downhill sprint at Santa Anita March 22, he scored narrowly

over the same about 6 1/2-furlong course on April 15.

Obviously placed in his ensuing three sprint attempts at Hollywood Park, most

notably in the May 5 Cool Frenchy over the Cushion Track and in the July 1

Robert K. Kerlan Memorial on turf. Mitchell subsequently stretched him out, and

Obviously is now two-for-two going a route.

"I thought he'd like the race down the hill," Mitchell said. "But now (that

he's won twice at a mile on turf) what do we do with him? We won't do anything,

though, until October."

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; 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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