Desormeaux takes on Baffert trio in American Pharoah

Keith Desormeaux likes to use races as building blocks for his trainees. Bob Baffert likes his horses to come firing out of the blocks. Those two approaches collide Friday at Santa Anita in the Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah, as the experienced Oviatt Class, trained by Desormeaux, takes on a trio of Baffert runners, two of whom won impressively in their lone starts.

The American Pharoah, at 1 1/16 miles, is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 5 at Del Mar. It also offers 17 points (10-4-2-1) toward a berth in next year’s Kentucky Derby, from which Baffert is currently barred by Churchill Downs. Seven 2-year-old colts are entered. The American Pharoah is race 8 on the nine-race opening-day card.

Oviatt Class, by Bernardini, has raced three times, significantly winning going two turns while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 80 in his most recent outing, against maidens Aug. 27 at Del Mar. A late-runner, the race set up well for him, and he figures to get another sharp pace into which to run Friday, what with several horses – Corniche, Joker Boy, and Rockefeller – all stretching out off front-running sprint wins.

“He’s been steady. Steady and he’s ready,” Desormeaux said Wednesday morning. “He’s made steady progress.”

Oviatt Class began his career going long, but on turf, the lone two-turn option in June. After sprinting Aug. 7 at Del Mar, he went a mile on dirt in his third start, resulting in the win.

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On that day, Oviatt Class ran down Flying Drummer, who was on the lead setting a contested pace before settling for second. Flying Drummer, trained by Baffert, gets a shot in this stakes though still a maiden, but the barn has Corniche and Rockefeller, highly regarded colts who won as advertised late in the Del Mar meeting.

Corniche, a $1.5 million purchase as a 2-year-old in training, is the lukewarm favorite on the current Breeders’ Cup Juvenile line authored by David Aragona of Daily Racing Form. He was spectacular in his Sept. 4 debut, setting a sharp pace and coasting home much best while recording a Beyer Speed Figure of 98, tops among his class.

Corniche, a son of Quality Road, had a cozy outside box in his sprint debut. He drew the rail for the American Pharoah.

“He’s extremely quick. Fast. 98 Beyer going 5 1/2 furlongs,” Baffert said.

Rockefeller, by Medaglia d’Oro, overcame an inside draw in his debut by using his speed to lead from start to finish Aug. 28 going six furlongs, earning a Beyer Figure of 80.

“I was really impressed. One hole, a little green,” Baffert said. “He’s bred to go two turns. He looks the part.”

Flying Drummer, second in both his starts, “got hooked by a longshot but never gave it up,” Baffert said of his last start.

Joker Boy stretches out after two sprint wins against California-breds.

Finneus (second) and Pappacap (fourth) exit what looks like a below-par edition of the Del Mar Futurity.