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‘There Hasn’t Even Been Any Talk About Another Trainer’: Juvenile Winner Corniche Will Return To Baffert After WinStar Vacation

Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche will return to the barn of embattled trainer Bob Baffert after a freshening at WinStar, according to a report in the Daily Racing Form, despite the ban imposed on Baffert by Churchill Downs.

That action has made Baffert trainees ineligible for the next two editions of the Kentucky Derby, and also prevents horses trained by Baffert from accumulating any points toward the Run for the Roses.

Owned by Peter Fluor's Speedway Stable, Corniche is undefeated in three career starts, including the G1 American Pharoah Stakes. The son of Quality Road was a $1,500,000 purchase at the OBS April sale, selected by Marette Farrell.

“Peter wants to be loyal,” Farrell told DRF. “Corniche won the Breeders' Cup, and he's a possible 2-year-old champion. No decisions have been made — there hasn't even been any talk about another trainer, or who he'd go to if he needs to go to another trainer. If the time comes that a decision needs to be made, if it needs to be that way, we'll put our heads together and make a decision.”

Report: Corniche to Freshen at WinStar Before Returning to Baffert

Presumptive 2-year-old champion male and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Corniche (Quality Road) will be freshened briefly at WinStar Farm in Kentucky this winter before returning to Bob Baffert's barn, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. Marette Farrell, who purchased the $1.5-million colt for Speedway Stable, said Corniche was sent to Kentucky last Wednesday.

“It's time to give him a little bit of a break,” Farrell told DRF. “Speedway likes to use WinStar for lay-ups. He can be turned out, graduate to a paddock, and they have a track, too. It's important to get a break mentally. A change of scenery is good for all of us.”

The ongoing subplot regarding Corniche and Baffert's other potential GI Kentucky Derby contenders is what the respective ownerships will do with their horses as the Derby, now a little over five months away, inches closer on the calendar. Baffert was suspended for two years from running horses at Churchill Downs after his Medina Spirit (Protonico) tested positive for an overage of betamethasone in this year's Derby.

If that suspension holds, it would likely prompt owners to move their horses from Baffert in time to run in the May 7 Derby. But for now, Peter Fluor and KC Weiner's Speedway is staying loyal to Baffert, as Farrell said the plan is to return Corniche to Baffert's barn at Santa Anita after his freshening.

“Peter wants to be loyal,” she said. “Corniche won the Breeders' Cup, and he's a possible 2-year-old champion. No decisions have been made–there hasn't even been any talk about another trainer, or who he'd go to if he needs to go to another trainer. If the time comes that a decision needs to be made, if it needs to be that way, we'll put our heads together and make a decision.”

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Procedure for Jack Christopher After BC Scratch

Jack Christopher (Munnings), expected to go off the favorite in the GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile but scratched by the track veterinarians the day prior to the race, has had a screw inserted in his left shin due to a stress fracture, according to his ownership group's racing manager, Bradley Weisbord.

The news was first reported by the Blood-Horse.

“Jack Christopher saw Dr. Larry Bramlage the Wednesday following the Breeders' Cup,” said Weisbord. “He had a full examination, including a bone scan. A couple of areas lit up, mainly the left shin, which is the reason he scratched on the Thursday prior to the Juvenile. He had a procedure where one screw was inserted into his shin, which will be removed in three weeks. He will recover at WinStar Farm before heading to South Florida.”

The chestnut, owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant and trained by Chad Brown, made it two-for-two with an eye-catching win in Belmont's GI Champagne S. Oct. 2.

“Chad Brown has split strings between Payson Park and Palm Meadows,” said Weisbord. “It is undetermined at this time which string Jack Christopher will join. We will leave that up to Chad, but we look forward to seeing him on the track in early 2022.”

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Scratched From Juvenile, Jack Christopher Undergoes Surgery; Plans Call For Colt To Return In 2022

Scratched out of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile the day before the race, Jack Christopher has undergone surgery on his left shin, according to bloodhorse.com. Dr. Larry Bramlage performed the procedure, and the 2-year-old son of Munnings is expected to return to the races in 2022.

“Due to a couple areas lighting up (on a bone scan), mainly the left shin, he had a procedure done on that shin and he's going to be out for two months,” bloodstock agent Bradley Weisbord told bloodhorse.com. “So we will start him back (training) in early 2022 at WinStar Farm and then ship him to Palm Meadows and start his campaign in South Florida.”

Trained by Chad Brown, Jack Christopher won his debut at Saratoga on Aug. 28 and added the G1 Champagne Stakes to his resume on Oct. 2. The colt out of Half Ours mare Rushin No Blushin was a $135,000 yearling purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall sale, and he was the morning-line favorite for the Juvenile prior to his scratch by Breeders' Cup veterinarians.