Owner Joseph Scardino dies at 86

Joseph Scardino, a longtime horse owner who achieved his greatest success with 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Obviously, died on Sunday. He was 86.

Scardino owned Obviously in partnership with Anthony Fanticola, who described Scardino as “a real horseman.”

“He loved horses,” Fanticola said. “He treated them well. He was the brains behind the outfit. He was my partner and best friend. He was like my brother. I’m going to miss him.”

Scardino – who lived and raced in Southern California – owned horses for several decades, and had numerous stakes winners with Fanticola, including the Grade 2-winning grass females Fanticola and Attima, and Hollywood Oaks winner Potesta. He was a longtime client of the late trainer Mike Mitchell, then had horses with Mitchell’s former assistant Phil D’Amato, who trained Obviously.

He also had the multiple graded stakes winners Silver Circus with trainer Julio Canani, and Bruho with trainer Jerry Fanning, both of whom Scardino acquired via claims.

Scardino is survived by his son, Frank, daughter, Angela Gates, and four grandchildren.

Services for Scardino will be held on Monday at St. Dorothy Catholic Church, 241 S. Valley Center Ave., in Glendora, Calif., at 10:30 a.m., Fanticola said.