Rosario Returns to Ride Kobe's Back

Trainer John Sadler is happy to have Joel Rosario back aboard Kobe’s Back in Sunday’s Grade II San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Fourth nationally in purse earnings with nearly $1.5 million, the former Southern California-based riding star lost all chance at victory when he rode the gray son of Flatter in the Grade I CashCall Futurity, in which Kobe’s Back clipped heels near the half-mile marker.

“Joel wanted to ride him back because he clipped heels and almost went down,” Sadler said. “We gave the horse a little time to get over that nightmare race, and he’s trained well here so we’re ready to go.”

The San Vicente, which goes as the fifth race: Grazen’s Hope, Martin Garcia, 6-1; Rprettyboyfloyd, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1; Papa Turf, Joe Talamo, 4-1; Roger Rocket, Corey Nakatani, 9-2; Cherubim, Mike Smith, 5-2; and Kobe’s Back, Joel Rosario, 2-1.