Corniche dazzles once again as he successfuly stretches out in the American Pharoah

ARCADIA, Calif. – With just one sprint to his credit, Corniche successfully stretched out around two turns in his second start and romped on Friday in the Grade 1, $301,000 American Pharoah for 2-year-olds, looking like a horse with far more experience, which should help him when he moves on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 35 days.

“He wants to please,” said his jockey, Mike Smith, who guided heavily favored Corniche ($2.80) to a front-running victory in the American Pharoah on opening day of Santa Anita’s fall meeting. “He’s easy on himself, and me. Not fighting, pulling. You’re not rasslin’, which would tire both of us out. When I eased off, he put his ears up, went along on his own.

“He’s a big colt, carries a lot of flesh. He gives the impression he’s going to get better and stronger.”

Corniche checked in 3 1/4 lengths to the good of Pappacap, covering 1 1/16 miles on a fast but dull surface in 1:44.75, which was .45 faster than the 2-year-old filly Ain’t Easy covered the same distance an hour earlier in the Chandelier.

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Oviatt Class ran on for third, a half-length behind Pappacap, with Rockefeller – who pressed Corniche early – tiring to finish fourth. Flying Drummer was fifth, then came Finneus and Joker Boy.

Corniche started from the rail, and Smith was intent on making sure he got out of the gate well. He was hustled to the front and set early fractions of 23.55 seconds for the quarter and 47.26 for the half, with Rockefeller closest, and Pappacap tracking while three paths wide.

Corniche was favored off a dazzling debut Sept. 4 at Del Mar, in which he recorded a Beyer Speed Figure of 98 while tattooing maidens by 4 1/4 lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs.

“He’s got a good mind,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert, who also sent out Rockefeller and Flying Drummer. “Down the backside he was being chased by a really good horse.”

Owing to his victory, Corniche earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile via the Win and You’re In program. The American Pharoah is also a points-scoring race (10-4-2-1) toward next year’s Kentucky Derby, but with Baffert currently barred from the race by Churchill Downs, the first- and fourth-place points go unawarded.

Corniche, by Quality Road, was purchased for $1.5 million as a 2-year-old in training in April at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales venue. He is owned by the Speedway Stable of Houstonians Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner.