KOBE’S BACK took the lead at the 1/16th pole and quickly drew off under a brisk hand ride by 5 1/4 lengths to take the G2 San Vicente S. at Santa Anita. The 3-year-old colt by FLATTERwas trailing the field for the first half mile, but swung out three wide in between horses on the turn and flew past the leader to win his first graded stakes. In his debut, KOBE’S BACK won Hollywood Park’s Willard L. Proctor S. by 3 1/4 lengths. In his second start after a five-month layout, KOBE’S BACK finished runner-up in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue S. to eventual Champion Shared Belief. Trained by John Sadler for Lee Searing’s C R K Stable, KOBE’S BACKwas a $480,000 purchase out of the 2013 OBS March Select Sale. Bred in Kentucky by Joanne R. Mummert out of the Well Decorated mare, Well, the top-priced 2-year-old of day one of OBS breezed a quick :10 1/5 for one furlong during the under-tack show.
