Santa Anita: Kobe's Back probable for San Carlos

ARCADIA, Calif. – The recent stakes winners Kobe’s Back and What a View are expected to start in lucrative graded stakes March 12 at Santa Anita Park.

Kobe’s Back, who won his 2016 debut in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes, is a probable starter in the $300,000 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs. Trainer Peter Eurton said he considered sending Kobe’s Back to races at Aqueduct and Keeneland but is opting to stay in California. He cited the distance of the San Carlos as part of the decision.

“We want to stay home and ship less,” he said.

What a View, who won his first stakes in the $251,000 California Cup Turf Classic for statebreds on Jan. 30, is being pointed for the $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, a Grade 1 race on turf, trainer Kenny Black said.

“There isn’t much else for him,” Black said. “I’d like to do something easier, but I don’t see another spot. It will be a test.”

Eurton said Pacific Heat, the winner of the $200,000 California Cup Oaks for statebred 3-year-old fillies on turf Jan. 30, is likely to run in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt March 5. Pacific Heat finished eighth in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12, her only loss in four starts. Pacific Heat was found to have a throat ulcer after that race.

“We’ll try her again on dirt,” Eurton said. “We thought she deserved another chance.”