Tag: Corniche

Can’t Catch Corniche in the Juvenile

DEL MAR, CA – Following the unfortunate vet scratch of speedy morning-line favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings), unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road) had things his own way on the front end and ran to the money as the 7-5 favorite for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Drawn widest of all in post 11, the $1.5-million OBS April topper shot out to the front beneath “Big Money” Mike Smith and cleared the field heading into the first turn. The Speedway Stables colorbearer sped through fractions of :23.03 and :46.15, kicked for home as the one to catch and kept finding down the lane to account for longshot Pappacap (Gun Runner) by 1 3/4 lengths. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) in third.

Corniche and Pappacap were also one-two across the line in Santa Anita's GI American Pharoah S. Oct. 1, the former's first try around two turns. Corniche previously rolled to a 'Rising Star' performance sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on debut at Del Mar Sept. 4.

This is the fifth Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory for Baffert and 18th Breeders' Cup win overall.

“I knew from the [11]-hole that he was going to have to use him harder than he'd like to,” Baffert said. “Mike [Smith] is a great rider. I love him on a horse like that. You never know how good they are until you put them in a situation like that. He just kicked back in and held those horses off. It's so hard to win these races, especially when you have a favorite and you win. It's exciting. These young horses are what our whole program is about. It's a great win for the owners. I have tremendous clients.”

Baffert added, “Turning for home, this horse has a beautiful way of [going], he just, his movement, he just jumps a long ways. His mechanics, he almost has mechanics like American Pharoah. He's just got that long, loping stride. He covers a lot of ground.”

Baffert continued, “I felt bad for Chad Brown [trainer of Jack Christopher] when I heard that because I have been in those positions and you don't want to see that. You see horses scratching and it takes away from the Breeders' Cup–these races are really hard to win. You have to be lucky. You have to have a good horse. There's not a lot of margin for error.”

Smith, the all-time winningest rider in World Championships history, piloted his 27th Breeders' Cup winner aboard Corniche and third overall in the Juvenile.

“The only thing I was worried about was that he got hotter [before the race] than he ever had,” Smith said. “It just made me get calmer. I don't think I have ever been so calm in a big race. I just sat really still, he caught a flyer leaving the gate and just left him alone.”

As Medina Spirit's GI Kentucky Derby win remains in the balance due to a well-documented betamethasone positive, horses trained by Baffert were subject to enhanced scrutiny for this weekend's Championships. Furthermore, with Baffert banned from Churchill Downs Inc. racetracks for three years, Corniche didn't earn any points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in Friday's Juvenile, which offered 20-8-4-2 points.

“Well the Derby is a long ways off, so right now my focus was just getting here and we'll see how it plays out,” Baffert said. “And there's still a lot of things going on and so… and, really, there's not much to talk about that right now, just, like I said, the main thing is to keep him healthy, that's number one, we have a really good horse, and we have to keep him healthy and the Derby, that's a long ways off still, so a lot can happen between now and then and we'll see how it–we got to see how it plays out.”

Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables have also campaigned the Baffert-trained GISW Collected, runner-up to Gun Runner in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at this venue. The duo continued to show their support for Baffert in the post-race press conference.

“Actually, K.C. and I never thought about moving the horse to a different trainer,” Fluor said. “We talked to Bob right after we bought the horse, he liked the horse, and so the horse was always coming to Bob. And three races and kind of look how he's done, so, with a great deal of thanks to Bob, and that's where we are.”

Fluor added, “This race was such a big race for Corniche and what it means to him and his 2-year old standing. And we have said–and Bob's doing a great job and we have a better chance of winning this race with our friend Bob Baffert and that's what happened. So we're kind of enjoying moment and down the road we'll focus on that later on, but thank you.”

Pedigree Notes:

Corniche–the $1.5-million OBS April topper selected by Speedway advisor Marette Farrell–is one of 51 stakes winners/28 graded stakes winners/12 Grade I winners for Quality Road. Quality Road is also the sire of fellow Breeders' Cup winners: Caledonia Road, City of Light and Hootenanny. Corniche, a son of six-time GSW and GI Matriarch S. runner-up Wasted Tears (Najran), was led out unsold on a bid of $385,000 at KEESEP last year, but turned in a smooth sales breeze in :10 flat to become one of two horses to eclipse the seven-figure barrier in Ocala. Wasted Tears, also responsible for the late stakes-placed Coffee Crush (Medaglia d'Oro), had a filly by Mendelssohn in 2020. She brought $750,000 from B.B.E. at this year's Keeneland September sale. Speedway Stables and Baffert also teamed up for a win with Quality Road's 'Rising Star' Roadster in the 2019 GI Santa Anita Derby and a runner-up finish in the GI Malibu S.

Friday, Del Mar
TVG BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE PRESENTED BY THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE-GI, $1,840,000, Del Mar, 11-5, 2yo, c/g, 1 1/16m, 1:42.50, ft.
1–CORNICHE, 122, c, 2, by Quality Road
                1st Dam: Wasted Tears (MGSW & GISP, $941,463),
                                by Najran
                2nd Dam: Wishes and Roses, by Greinton (GB)
                3rd Dam: Anniversary Wish, by Beau's Eagle
'TDN Rising Star'. ($385,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; $1,500,000
2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Speedway Stables LLC; B-Bart Evans &
Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith.
$1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $1,262,000. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pappacap, 122, c, 2, Gun Runner–Pappascat, by Scat Daddy.
O/B-Rustlewood Farm Inc (FL); T-Mark Casse. $340,000.
3–Giant Game, 122, c, 2, Giant's Causeway–Game for More, by
More Than Ready. ($500,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-West Point
Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-H. Allen
Poindexter (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $180,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1HF, 2HF. Odds: 1.40, 15.10, 21.90.
Also Ran: Commandperformance, Oviatt Class-(DH), Pinehurst-(DH), American Sanctuary, Double Thunder, Barossa, Jasper Great, Tough to Tame. Scratched: Jack Christopher.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Favorite Jack Christopher Scratched From Juvenile; Domestic Spending, United Out Of Turf, Hit The Road Out Of Mile

Grade 1 Champagne Stakes winner Jack Christopher, unbeaten in two starts, has been scratched from Friday's $2 million, Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile because of a reported shin problem. The 9-5 morning line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile contest, the Munnings colt is owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant and trained by Chad Brown.

This was the second devastating blow for Brown, who earlier on Thursday told Breeders' Cup officials that three-time G1 winner Domestic Spending would be unable to compete in the $4-million, G1 Turf because of inflammation in a foreleg.

News about Jack Christopher was first reported Thursday evening on Twitter by television racing analyst Michelle Yu and confirmed by Breeders' Cup. Brown did not respond to text messages after the news broke.

Bloodstock agent Bradley Weisbord, racing manager for Bakke, said in a Tweet Thursday evening that Jack Christopher, who earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure while winning the Champagne by 2 3/4 lengths on Oct. 2, would return to the races as a 3-year-old.

Weisbord later told Thoroughbred Daily News Jack Christopher was scratched on the advice of veterinarians working for Breeders' Cup.

 Favoritism in the Juvenile now falls on Bob Baffert-trained Corniche, who like Jack Christopher is unbeaten in two starts. The son of Quality Road won the G1 American Pharoah last out under Mike Smith, earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. He was installed the 5-2 second choice behind Jack Christopher in the morning line after drawing the outside post position in what is now a field of 11 2-year-old colts.

Meanwhile, the field for Saturday's $4-million Breeders' Cup Turf took a significant turn on Thursday morning with the news that Domestic Spending, second choice on the morning line at 4-1, and 2019 Turf runner-up United were both scratched because of inflammation.

Klaravich Stable's Domestic Spending is out after trainer Chad Brown said the 4-year-old gelding by Kingman showed inflammation in his left foreleg. Brown told TVG's Christine Blacker the three-time Grade 1 winner did not go to the track Thursday morning and was resting comfortably in his stall. He will be sent to Kentucky for further diagnostics.

Domestic Spending was coming off a second-place finish to Two Emmys in the G1 Mr. D Stakes (formerly the Arlington Million) at Arlington Park on Aug. 14. That ended a four-race win streak dating back to the Saratoga Derby Invitational in August 2020. He followed that with three consecutive G1 wins in the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar last November and this year's Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day and the Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day.

Domestic Spending galloping at Del Mar on Wednesday

LNJ Foxwoods' United also had swelling in a leg that trainer Richard Mandella had been monitoring over the last several days

“United a few days had a little swelling over a suspensory ligament,” Mandella told TVG's Michelle Yu. “We scanned it and it was clean. We thought maybe he just hit it. We worked on it a few days and today it was looking good but I thought with the race coming up I'm not going to go in wondering if he's going to be alright or not. So I let him have a strong two-minute lick for a mile, and afterwards there was more swelling there than there had been. So that answered the question: we're not going to take a chance.  The good news is it scans clean so there's no real damage, but there's some kind of strain going on and we can't take a risk.”

United, a 6-year-old gelding by Giant's Causeway, was coming off a nose victory in the G2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita on Oct. 2, his 10th victory in 22 lifetime starts. This would have been United's third run in the Breeders' Cup Turf, having come up a head short of Bricks and Mortar when second in 2019 and eighth behind Tarnawa last year.

United, who was to be ridden by John Velazquez, was 20-1 on the morning line. Flavien Prat, who had been United's regular rider, opted instead to ride Domestic Spending.

The two defections put also-eligibles Bolshoi Ballet from the Aidan O'Brien stable and Bill Mott-trained Channel Maker in the starting field.

On Friday morning, trainer Dan Blacker tweeted the news that Hit The Road had spiked a fever and would be a scratch from the Breeders' Cup Mile.

“Unbelievably bad timing and bad luck,” wrote Blacker. “We will get him healthy, regroup and point for the next race.”

Hit The Road had a 15-1 morning line and was coming to the race after a third-place effort in the G2 City of Hope Mile. Earlier this year he won the G1 Kilroe and the G3 Thunder Road. John Velazquez had the mount.

The post Favorite Jack Christopher Scratched From Juvenile; Domestic Spending, United Out Of Turf, Hit The Road Out Of Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Haiku Handicapper Presented By NYRA Bets: 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Time to analyze the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile field, in post position order, in the form of Haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.

To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

#1 – Jack Christopher
It could be argued
He had the best final prep
Tough if traffic-free

#2 – Jasper Great
What's the exchange rate
From a 10-length Japan romp
To U.S. dollars?

#3 – Oviatt Class
Belongs in the field
But there's not a whole lot there
To stand out in it

#4 – Pappacap
Can win at Del Mar
But will his aim remain true
As foes get tougher?

#5 – Double Thunder
Climbing steadily
He'll need to skip a few rungs
To catch the top ones

#6 – American Sanctuary
Flyover standout
Appears to have a ceiling
Well below the best

#7 – Giant Game
Recent graduate
Feels like they're taking a shot
Don't love the angle

#8 – Barossa
He's bred for greatness
But what's he do better than
The other Bafferts?

#9 – Pinehurst
Two months between starts
Rust, two turns are big questions
The track is not, though

#10 – Commandperformance
A willing closer
Still looking for his first win
He could steal a piece

#11 – Tough to Tame
Better with each start
He'll pick up his share of wins
But hard to back here

#12 – Corniche
Freak Del Mar debut
Then 13-point Beyer drop
Feels like a red flag

Prediction
This race loves upsets
Jasper Great grows the legend
One, ten round it out

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Second Chances: Promising War Front Colt Returns at Santa Anita Friday

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

After finishing a well-beaten third behind potential GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile favorite Corniche (Quality Road) sprinting on debut at Del Mar Sept. 4 (video), the promising War At Sea (c, 2, War Front–Serene Melody, by Street Cry {Ire}) stretches to two turns at Santa Anita Friday.

Off at 24-1 in his unveiling for the patient Ron Ellis barn, War At Sea chased from an inside fifth as Corniche threw it down through an opening quarter in :21.72 in a stretched-out field of 10. With the subsequent unbeaten GI American Pharoah S. winner in a race of his own turning for home and on his way to 'TDN Rising Stardom,' War At Sea continued on down the lane to pick up the show slot, eight lengths adrift the $1.5-million OBS April topper. War At Sea earned a very solid 78 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“Obviously, the horse that beat him is one of the top 2-year-olds in the country and might even be favored in the Breeders' Cup, so he got beat by a good one,” Ellis said.

“I was very impressed with the way he ran. He had trained like he's a really good horse and I think the more distance, the better for him. He's not really a sprinter and I knew that first time out, but he showed a little bit more than I thought he would at 5 1/2 [furlongs].”

War At Sea has breezed five times since his debut, including a four-furlong drill in :47 4/5 (9/46) in Arcadia Oct. 11. He's listed at odds of 4-1 on the morning-line while facing nine rivals going a mile at Santa Anita Friday.

“Because I wasn't expecting much from him as a sprinter, I didn't wind him up real tight for that first start,” Ellis said. “We've tightened the screws just a little bit–I got him geared to improve with each race. We've got long-term goals with him. He probably was only 85% first out and he's probably at 90% now. After this race, he should be at a 100%. Just trying to have him get a little better with each race.”

Produced by a stakes-winning daughter of the brilliant Serena's Song (Rahy), War At Sea, bred in Kentucky by Lewis Thoroughbred Breeding, brought $525,000 from Doubledown Stables, Inc. after powering through an eighth in :10 from the Eddie Woods consignment at OBS March earlier this year. This is the female family of Grade/Group 1 winners Sophisticat (Storm Cat), Honor Code (A.P. Indy), et al. The War Front/Street Cry cross is also responsible for MGSW War Decree.

“I was very surprised that a horse of his size and pedigree to go farther could do that [go in :10 flat],” Ellis said. “I loved him at the sale.”

“The War Front colt was very backward as a yearling,” Woods said earlier this spring. “They didn't feel like he was going to bring what he should [as a yearling], so we were very lucky to get him from Mr. Lewis. He's trained beautifully all year. He's gotten better and better as we've gone along. We've always thought he was a serious horse.”

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner and Royal Ascot G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GIII Las Virgenes S. heroine Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), and MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

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