Future Obviously bright

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Inglewood, CA (Sports Network) - The 2012 racing season for 4-year-old Obviously is complete, but plans are set for a return in 2013. The gelding, trained by Mike Mitchell, closed the year with a third-place finish behind Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Owned by Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino, Obviously set the pace in the $2 million Mile until the stretch with Joe Talamo in the saddle. The gelding held on to complete the trifecta, just two-lengths in back of Wise Dan and a half-length behind runner-up Animal Kingdom.

"He lost his right front shoe somewhere in that race," noted assistant trainer Phil D'Amato, "and in a race like that, who knows if it cost him anything or not. You need four shoes on the turf in a turn-of-foot kind of race, so we even thought more of him after the race.

"On top of that, the horse that beat him is the Horse of the Year in my eyes."

A veteran of 12 career starts, Obviously made a successful move into stakes company this year with victories in the Del Mar Mile and Arroyo Seco Mile Stakes.

Those two wins convinced the betting public to send the gelding off as the 6-1 fourth pick in the Mile.

"We're going to give him a little r and r, then bring him back next year and try to do the same thing -- shoot for the Breeders' Cup Mile," said D'Amato.

His successful 2012 resulted in earnings of $538,048 with four wins in nine starts.