'Obviously' Wins $100K American Stakes At Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Obviously won the $100,000 American Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Obviously ran a mile on the turf in 1:33.39 and paid $3.40 and $2.60 as the heavy 3-5 favorite.

Chips All In returned $4, while Silentio was another neck back in third. There was no show wagering after the field was reduced to four with the defection of 8-5 morning line favorite Winning Prize and two others.

Obviously had been idle since finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November. The 6-year-old gelding gave trainer Phil D'Amato his first win in a graded stakes race. He took over last month from newly retired trainer Mike Mitchell, who was on hand.

"This is very special," D'Amato said. "I'm happy to have my mentor next to me and win a graded stakes with this horse. He's just the barn favorite."

The victory, worth $60,000, increased Obviously's career earnings to $1,097,361, with 10 wins in 19 starts.