Kobe's Back ready to put gate woes behind him

ARCADIA, Calif. – Starting gate issues have kept Kobe’s Back from reaching his potential this year. He broke slowly and finished seventh in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 15. In the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on April 5, Kobe’s Back hit the side of the gate, was last on the backstretch, and rallied to finish third.

In the last month, Kobe’s Back has spent numerous mornings at the starting gate working with Santa Anita starter Jay Slender. A progress report will be available a few moments after the start of Saturday’s $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita.

Trainer John Sadler is hoping Kobe’s Back reverts to his performance in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs in February, when the gray colt closed from last in a field of six to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

The Grade 3 Laz Barrera Stakes is run over seven furlongs for 3-year-olds.

“He’s worked twice from the gate,” Sadler said. “Jay Slender has been schooling him extensively. Jay said he’s doing good.”

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Kobe’s Back has won 2 of 6 starts and $234,250. Both wins came as a late-runner in sprints, and he is expected to use the same style in the Laz Barrera.

“He’ll be behind the speed and he’ll come from off of it,” Sadler said. “Hopefully, he won’t have too much to do.”

Sadler said that Kobe’s Back could start in the $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes over seven furlongs for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park on June 7 if he runs well on Saturday.

The Barrera drew a field of seven. Kobe’s Back is the most accomplished runner in terms of earnings, but not by wins. Tonito M., a colt by Rock Hard Ten, has won 6 of 7 starts, all in Puerto Rico, before being bought in March by Mickey Gonzalez. Tonito M. has been based with trainer Jerry Hollendorfer since late March.

While horses from Puerto Rico are rare in Southern California – and difficult to assess – Tonito M. does have an excellent race record, often leading throughout. Four of his six wins have come in graded stakes, ranging in distance from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.

“You don’t know what he’s been running against,” said Dan Ward, Hollendorfer’s assistant at Santa Anita.

“He’s getting better with every work. He’s a nice horse to be around.”

Tonito M. could be joined on the lead by Ferocious, a colt by Tale of the Cat who has yet to run in a stakes. Trained by Ron Ellis, Ferocious has won his last two starts – a maiden race on March 8 and an optional claimer on April 12.

Chelios, second to Ferocious on April 12, makes his stakes debut in the Barrera, as do Twenty Percent and Top Fortitude.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Twenty Percent won his debut on March 22, closing from sixth to beat maidens over 5 1/2 furlongs. Top Fortitude won his debut at Hollywood Park last November, but was last of 10 behind Ferocious in his only other start.

Hollendorfer also runs Puppy Manners, who is winless in three starts this year, all in stakes around two turns.