Corniche Records First Breeze Since Joining Pletcher

Last year's champion 2-year-old male, Corniche , recorded his first workout since moving into the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, covering three furlongs on the Belmont Park training track June 10 in :39. The move was his first since he notched two published drills at WinStar Farm in central Kentucky in mid-to-late April.

"He's doing well," Pletcher said. "Just a nice, easy three-eighths, a starting point."

The 3-year-old has been with the trainer for a couple of weeks, Pletcher said. 

The Speedway Stables-owned Quality Road   colt is unraced since going 3-for-3 last year, capped by a front-running victory in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) in November at Del Mar. He first began galloping in late January at WinStar.

A $1.5 million purchase from the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Corniche raced last year for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Speedway Stables owners Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner changed trainers this year with Baffert in the midst of serving a 90-day suspension for a medication violation involving Medina Spirit in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs that resulted in that colt's disqualification. 

Also working Friday for Pletcher were China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Life Is Good , who went a half-mile in :49.22, and KHK Racing's group 3-winning Shahama , who covered the same distance in :49.65.

The top-rated dirt horse in the Longines World's Best Thoroughbred Rankings, Life Is Good is pointed toward the Aug. 6 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, with the July 2 John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs being a possible prep, Pletcher said. Shahama, sixth last-out in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), goes next in the June 25 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) at Belmont, according to Pletcher.