Obviously earns shot at Breeders’ Cup

It’s going to take a lucrative payment to nominate Obviously for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile next month at Santa Anita, but trainer Mike Mitchell and co-owners Anthony Fanticola and Joe Scardino are convinced the 4-year-old gelding has earned a shot based on his freakish-like performances in his last two races.

Last month, Obviously set a course record for a mile on the turf at Del Mar in 1:32.10. On Saturday at Santa Anita, Obviously won the $150,000 Arroyo Seco Mile by a half-length over Trailblazer in 1:31.95, just six-hundreths of a second off the course record of 1:31.89.

Obviously likes to go to the front and then keeps going under jockey Joe Talamo, even when facing a challenge in the stretch by good closers.

“He’s definitely got the highest cruising speed of any horse I’ve ever been on,” Talamo said. “I still can’t get over that he went the half [mile] in 45 and change. That cruising speed of his is unbelievable. Pulling up, I had to get the outrider to grab me. I’m just excited for the Breeders’ Cup with him.”

Said Mitchell: “He needed to perform like this today to consider the Breeders’ Cup with him, but now, why not?”