Corniche the leader of typically strong Southern California 3-year-old crop
ARCADIA, Calif. – Seven of the last 10 horses to finish first in the Kentucky Derby spent the bulk of their winter racing or training at Santa Anita, and this year’s crop of locally based Derby prospects offers similar possibilities, with a deep group underscored by uncertainty of the plans for some of the marquee names.
Corniche, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and likely Eclipse Award winner as champion male 2-year-old, is among those expected to be based here this winter, along with such well-regarded runners as Doppelganger, Messier, Newgrange, Pinehurst, and Rockefeller – all trained by Bob Baffert – as well as Doug O’Neill’s duo of Mackinnon and Slow Down Andy, Oviatt Class for Keith Desormeaux, Sir London for Simon Callaghan, and several unraced colts for the likes of Ruben Alvarado, Baffert, and Richard Mandella who have trained like they are of high quality.
Corniche is at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, sent there for a freshening. Marette Farrell, the racing manager for owners Speedway Stables, said Corniche is set to resume training soon after the new year, and the plan remains for him to return to Baffert.
That will have to change, though, if a) there is no change to Baffert being barred from the Derby by Churchill Downs and b) Speedway’s Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner want to run Corniche in the Derby. The large partnership that owns Doppelganger, Messier, Newgrange, Pinehurst, and Rockefeller could face a similar decision.
Both Farrell and Tom Ryan, the racing manager for the partnership Baffert calls The Avengers, in separate telephone interviews this past week expressed support for Baffert and said no decision would be made regarding potentially having to move their Derby prospects to another trainer until they have to. As of now, those horses can’t earn points in Derby preps.
Farrell said Corniche likely would have two preps prior to the Derby, beginning in early March. Newgrange, Pinehurst, and Rockefeller all are training as though the Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes Jan. 1 could be an option. Baffert also frequently ships to Oaklawn Park to race his Derby prospects, the most notable success story Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
The Sham, also expected to attract Oviatt Class, begins a series of points-scoring two-turn stakes here that includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Robert Lewis Feb. 6, the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe March 5, and culminates with the Grade 1, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby April 9, four weeks in front of the May 7 Kentucky Derby.
Mackinnon, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, could go in the Sham, or remain on grass in the $100,000 Eddie Logan Dec. 31, O’Neill said.
If it’s the Sham, “We’ll see if we keep the Derby dream alive or crush it right away,” O’Neill said.
The Logan is the next target for Mandella’s grass maiden winner Sumter.
Maiden winner Sir London is pointing to the Lewis, which could be the next spot for Los Alamitos Futurity winner Slow Down Andy unless he ships, O’Neill said.
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King Glorious winner Straight Up G will go in the $200,000 California Cup Derby for statebreds Jan. 15. His performance that day will determine if he next tackles open company, trainer Richard Baltas said.
Lightly raced maidens who look as though they could come around this meet include Got Thunder (by Arrogate) for John Sadler, and the Union Rags colts Noble Union and Union Train for John Shirreffs. Among those nearing their debuts who have trained in eye-catching fashion are Armagnac (Quality Road), McLaren Vale (Gun Runner), and Wharton (Candy Ride) for Baffert; the speedy Cal-bred Smuggler’s Run (Straight Fire) for Alvarado; and Set Sail (Malibu Moon) and Top Secret (Uncle Mo) for Mandella.
On the filly side, Del Mar debut winner Empire Gal is set for the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Ynez Jan. 8, trainer Michael McCarthy said. That stakes also could attract Miss Maddie B. for Bob Hess Jr., Awake At Midnyte for O’Neill, and Big Switch for Sadler.
Los Alamitos Starlet winner Eda, trained by Baffert, should be seen later in the meet, perhaps Feb. 6 in the Grade 3, $200,000 Las Virgenes – which is the next intended start for Hess-trained Starlet runner-up Cairo Memories and O’Neill third-place finisher Tonito’s – or the Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ysabel March 6. Eda and stablemate Under the Stars would be candidates to go to Oaklawn, too.
Ain’t Easy, the unbeaten Chandelier winner who was injured prior to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is on target for an early March return, trainer Phil D’Amato said. That would give her two preps – the Santa Ysabel and Grade 2, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks April 9 – prior to the May 6 Kentucky Oaks.
Other fillies to watch include Mandella-trained Micro Share (Upstart), who showed ability in her debut chasing Empire Gal at Del Mar and is entered as a main track only in a maiden grass race Monday, and Queen of Thorns (Violence), who has yet to start but has trained well for Peter Eurton.