Delayed comeback for Kobe's Back

ARCADIA, Calif. – Kobe’s Back, the millionaire multiple stakes winner, will miss the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes on Feb. 4 because his preparation has been disrupted by the persistent wet weather in the last two weeks, trainer Peter Eurton said on Friday.

“I’m not going to rush him,” Eurton said. “He’s an older dude now, and I’ll let things come to me. He’ll work Monday.”

Kobe’s Back has not raced since finishing third in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita last July. Kobe’s Back was taken out of training last summer because of “body soreness,” Eurton said at the time.

Eurton said on Friday that he hopes to start Kobe’s Back in the $400,000 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs here March 11. Kobe’s Back won the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs here last March.

A 6-year-old horse, Kobe’s Back has won 5 of 20 starts and earned $1,036,250 for owners Lee and Susan Searing.

Eurton said two other leading runners in his stable are on schedule – the 3-year-old filly Champagne Room and the turf horse Ashleyluvssugar.

Champagne Room, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies here in November and the leading contender for the title of champion 2-year-old filly of 2016, will start in the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 5.

Ashleyluvssugar, fourth in the BC Turf on Nov. 5, is expected to start in the $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic on Jan. 28.

◗ Vyjack is in the midst of a 45-day break and will return to trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable in late February, he said. Vyjack was second by a head in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar in late November in his last start. He won the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita in October and then finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here Nov. 4. He was considered for the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes on Jan. 7 but was not entered.

D’Amato said earlier this month that he wants to rest Vyjack this winter in anticipation of a busy campaign later this year. Owned by Pick Six Racing, Vyjack, 7, has won 8 of 29 starts and earned $1,371,900.