Corniche makes all in Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Nov 06, 2021 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Corniche provided Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert with his
record-equaling fifth victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on Friday at
Del Mar, leading wire-to-wire under Mike Smith.

The 7-5 favorite in the $1.84 million event, Corniche's path to the lead, and
ultimately the winner's circle, was made easier following the scratch Thursday
of morning-line favorite Jack Christopher,the Champagne (G1) winner who was
expected to show speed from post 1.

Although hung out himself in post 11, Corniche broke sharply and seized
command before entering the first turn. Setting an honest clip of :23.42,
:47.01, and 1:10.96, Corniche found more through the stretch and prevailed by 1
3/4 lengths. His time for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track was 1:42.50.

Longshots Pappacap and Giant Game finished second and third, and were
followed by Commandperformance, Oviatt Class and Pinehurst, who dead-heated for fifth, American Sanctuary,
Double Thunder, Barossa, Jasper Great, and Tough to Tame.

The Juvenile was a 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby series prep, offering
qualifying points of 20-8-4-2 to the top four finishers. However, due to
Baffert's suspension from racing at Churchill Downs for the next two runnings of
the Kentucky Derby, Corniche was ineligible to earn points.

Pappacap earned eight points, increasing his total to 12. Giant Game earned
four points, and Commandperformance earned two points, boosting his total to
six.

Baffert previously won the Juvenile with Vindication (2002), Midshipman
(2008), New Year's Day (2013), and Game Winner (2018). He's now tied with D.
Wayne Lukas for most Juvenile victories by a trainer.

Corniche heads into a brief winter break with three wins from as many starts.
Victorious in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden at Del Mar on Sept. 4, he stepped up to 1
1/16-mile American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita on Oct. 1 and led throughout
there as well, scoring by 3 1/4 lengths. He's now earned $1,143,350.

Corniche is by Quality Road and out of Wasted Tears, a Najran mare who was a
multiple Grade 2 winner on turf. He was most recently sold for $1.5 million at
the OBS April sale of two-year-olds.