Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: American Pharoah Stakes
Grade 1, $301,000 American Pharoah Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita, Oct. 1, 2021
(0 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 0 for fourth)
Winner: Corniche, by Quality Road
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Speedway Stables LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 85
CORNICHE, a dazzling debut winner sprinting at Del Mar with a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, successfully stretched out around two turns in only his second start and won comfortably, but with a figure well below that of his debut.
The lower figure could very well be a function of having a lack of experience heading into this race; certainly more foundation would benefit. He, like this entire field, also had to navigate a deep, tiring track, and while figures do take into account the speed of the surface, a lightly raced horse stretching out is taking the worst of it racing over a demanding surface like this. Corniche slogged 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.75.
The track was maintained in a similar fashion for the 2019 Breeders’ Cup, and the horses who ran in the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies that year were never the same. That will be something to watch with this group in coming weeks and months.
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
There are several ways to look at this race: an optimist will say Corniche had much to overcome, and did it. A pessimist will say he’s got more to prove. But a realistic evaluation, I believe, borrows from both. I think this is a very talented colt whose next race, scheduled to be the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, will tell a lot more.
This race offered a fees-paid berth to the Juvenile. Regarding the Derby, though, Churchill Downs’s rules for the 2022 edition states that horses trained by anyone currently barred from the race can’t earn points, so the 10 points that would have gone to Corniche, and the single point that would have gone to fourth-place finisher ROCKEFELLER – both trained by Bob Baffert – go unawarded.
In this race, Corniche, starting from the inside, used his natural speed to hit the front in the opening strides, with Rockefeller in closest pursuit. Being forwardly placed was a decided edge over this surface on this day, so Corniche was in the right spot. He went along under his own power into the backstretch, his ears straight up, the sign of a horse waiting on his competition. When Rockefeller got closer early on the backstretch, Corniche spurted away without being asked. He turned back a bid from Rockefeller on the far turn, opened up in upper stretch with only the reins being shaken at him, and was given just one insignificant backhanded tap of the whip by Smith coming through the lane. He breezed under the wire, much the best.
PAPPACAP, who finished second, pressed the pace from the three path around the first turn. He was hustled along beginning three furlongs out to try and close the gap on the top two while remaining three paths wide, but could make no impact on the winner through the lane. At least this was an improvement over his disappointing Del Mar Futurity.
OVIATT CLASS, who was third, lacks early speed and trailed early while saving ground. He raced well back down the backstretch, saved ground on the far turn while beginning to rally, split horses in upper stretch, finished well, and galloped out best. Considering the track profile this day, this was a good effort for the late-running colt. He’s definitely worth following.
Rockefeller, who was fourth, like Corniche was coming off a debut sprint win at Del Mar. He, too, had good speed leaving the gate, was just behind and outside Corniche around the first turn, went on the attack around the far turn, but never could get on terms with Corniche, then steadily faded through the lane.
FLYING DRUMMER, who was fifth, ran up on the heels of his Baffert-trained stablemate Corniche heading into the first turn and had to check, then settled into a nice spot saving ground behind the leaders into the backstretch. He was asked to go after the leaders while saving ground on the far turn, but had no response, and was ridden sympathetically by John Velazquez through the lane once the cause was lost.
FINNEUS, who was sixth, was on the rail toward the rear of the field heading into the first turn, but lugged out as through bothered by the extreme kickback. He made a mild bid between rivals in the two path three furlongs out, but never could get close to the top three and then flattened out in the lane. He’ll be best suited by returning to sprints, and he’s got statebred options, too.
JOKER BOY, who finished last of seven, leaped in the air leaving the gate to be off poorly, raced midpack in the two to three path around the first turn while ever so slightly trying to drift out, had no response three furlongs out while racing three paths wide, stopped badly, and was all but eased through the lane. His poor start didn’t afford a fair chance to evaluate him here, but he won both his prior starts sprinting against California-breds, so a return to that context seems appropriate.