American Anthem works swift five furlongs prepping for Rebel

ARCADIA, Calif.- American Anthem, one of trainer Bob Baffert’s top contenders for the Triple Crown, worked five furlongs in 58.98 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday prior to the first race.

There was no early morning training on the main track at Santa Anita on Sunday because of pre-dawn rain. American Anthem was one of four horses to have workouts at 11:45 a.m.

American Anthem is a candidate for the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 18.

Kobe’s Back, the multiple stakes-winning sprinter, worked six furlongs in 1:13.13. Pretty N Cool, a stakes winner last summer for Baffert, worked six furlongs in 1:11.03.

American Anthem worked in company with stablemate Downtowner, a maiden. Ridden by jockey Martin Garcia, American Anthem started a length behind Downtowner and caught the stablemate on the turn.

American Anthem galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.51. Downtowner was timed in 59.40 seconds for five furlongs.

American Anthem, who is owned by Winstar Farm, S.F. Bloodstock, and China Horse Club, beat maidens in his debut at Del Mar in December and was second by a head to Gormley in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes here on Jan. 7.

Kobe’s Back is being pointed to the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs on March 11. Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Kobe’s Back is trained by Peter Eurton. A 6-year-old horse, Kobe’s Back has not raced since finishing third in the Triple Bend last June.

Gary Stevens worked Kobe’s Back, but Javier Castellano is scheduled to have the mount in the Triple Bend, Eurton said. Stevens is preparing for a comeback from hip replacement surgery in December and is scheduled to ride as early as next Sunday.

Pretty N Cool was ridden by Garcia and worked quickly, including the opening quarter-mile in 23.82 seconds and a half-mile in 46.82. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Pretty N Cool has won three stakes in her career. She has not raced since September and is nominated for the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs on March 5.

- additional reporting by Brad Free