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ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) – Corniche won the $ 300,000 American Pharoah Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths on Friday in Santa Anita, giving Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert his record 10th victory in the Class 1 race .
Ridden by fellow Hall of Fame member Mike Smith, Corniche covered 1 1/16 miles in 1: 44.75 on opening day of the Santa Anita fall meet.
The victory earned Corniche a paying spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 5 at Del Mar.
However, the colt didn’t win what needed to be 10 points to qualify for next year’s Kentucky Derby. This is because Churchill Downs banned Baffert’s horses from earning Derby qualifying points. It was suspended by the track for the Derbies 2022 and 2023.
“We’re just going to let the process unfold and not think about it now,” Baffert said. “The main thing is to keep them healthy and prepare them for the next dance. I focus on these horses day in and day out.
Baffert’s Medina Spirit won this year’s Derby but failed a drug test after the race which the coach is challenging in court.
Corniche paid $ 2.80, $ 2.20 and $ 2.10 as a 2-5 favorite. The 2-year-old was bought for $ 1.5 million in April by Speedway Stables owner Peter Fluor.
“There are so many advantages to this horse,” said Smith. “That’s what’s really exciting about him.”
The victory, worth $ 180,000, increased Corniche’s career earnings to $ 222,000.
Pappacap brought in $ 6.80 and $ 4.20. Oviatt Class was another half length in third and paid $ 3 to show.
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