Corniche, Rockefeller Among Seven in American Pharoah

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, already with nine victories in the race currently known as the American Pharoah Stakes (G1), has three opportunities to extend his record-setting tally when he runs Corniche , Rockefeller , and Flying Drummer  in the $300,000 contest.

Four other 2-year-olds join them Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah, which honors the Baffert-trained Triple Crown winner of 2015. Before 2018, the race had been run as the Norfolk and Frontrunner Stakes.

The richest of four stakes on opening day of Santa Anita's Autumn Meet, the American Pharoah is a "Win and You're In" prep that offers a free, automatic berth into the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

The American Pharoah is also a part of Churchill Downs' Road to the Kentucky Derby Series, offering points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to its top four finishers. However, Baffert trainees are ineligible to earn points under Churchill Downs rules announced Sept. 10. Series' regulations state that any horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2022 Kentucky Derby does not amass points.

Acting as a property owner, Churchill Downs Inc. suspended Baffert through the 2023 spring meet at Churchill Downs after his runner, Medina Spirit , tested positive for betamethasone after winning the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Regardless of Derby points, much is at stake in the American Pharoah. Besides a berth in the Breeders' Cup, the race's prestige as a grade 1 can make its winner valuable as a stallion prospect.

Stud value could generate a positive return for the Speedway Stables-owned Corniche . The Quality Road   colt fetched $1.5 million from the de Meric Sales consignment at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

In his debut Sept. 4, he ran to his pricetag, rolling by 4 1/4 lengths with 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.01 under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

"He's come with a lot of high expectations and high hopes," Smith told BloodHorse in an interview the day after the race. "He passed all that with flying colors. He ran a tremendous race."

Smith added that he sees a "whole lot of upside" to the 2-year-old, who is out of the graded-stakes winning Najran  mare Wasted Tears .

Watch: Smith High on Pinehurst, Corniche

Also a winner at first asking for Baffert was Rockefeller. A $750,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment, he took charge early in an Aug. 28 race at Del Mar, opened up by five lengths, and prevailed by 2 1/4 lengths.

Flavien Prat replaces Abel Cedillo on Rockefeller.

By Medaglia d'Oro   out of the Speightstown   mare Dance to Bristol , Rockefeller races for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm.

Baffert's other entrant, Michale Petersen's Flying Drummer, is a maiden with two runner-up finishes from as many starts.

He lost Aug. 27 to Jim Downey's Oviatt Class , the only existing two-turn winner in Friday's lineup. The latter, trained by Keith Desormeaux, was a 4 1/2-length victor in his third start going a mile.

Stakes winners Joker Boy , Pappacap , and the twice-graded-placed Finneux complete the field.

Besides three graded races Friday at Santa Anita, the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes could launch horses into the Breeders' Cup. It is a Challenge Series qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Shippers One Timer  and Miss Alacrity  head the five-furlong turf dash with the locally based Forbidden Kingdom .

Entries: American Pharoah S. (G1)

Santa Anita Park, Friday, October 01, 2021, Race 8

• Grade I
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 2 yo
• 4:29 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Corniche (KY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Bob Baffert	6/5
2	2Flying Drummer (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Bob Baffert	10/1
3	3Finneus (CA)	Tiago Josue Pereira	122	Walther Solis	12/1
4	4Oviatt Class (VA)	Kent J. Desormeaux	122	J. Keith Desormeaux	3/1
5	5Joker Boy (CA)	Edwin A. Maldonado	122	Brian J. Koriner	15/1
6	6Rockefeller (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Bob Baffert	3/1
7	7Pappacap (FL)	Joe Bravo	122	Mark E. Casse	8/1