Corniche

Corniche was purchased by owner Speedway Stables for $1.5 million as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale in 2020. The Quality Road colt was a buzz horse during summer 2021 as he prepared for racing and was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in a 5 ½-furlong sprint at Del Mar on Sept. 4. He led at every point of call under Mike Smith and won going away by 4 ¼ lengths.

Trainer Bob Baffert then entered Corniche in the $300,000, Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Oct. 1, the opening day of Santa Anita Park’s fall meet. Stretching out to two turns, Corniche once again assumed the early lead and never relinquished it in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah, turning back a brief challenge in the far turn and rolling to a 3 ¼-length victory at 2-5 odds under Smith. He earned an automatic bid in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with the win.

Breaking from the outside post in the Juvenile, Corniche made it to the lead under a terrific ride from Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, set a measured tempo through the backstretch, and spurted away at the top of the stretch en route to a clear victory. Corniche gave Smith his record-extending 27th win in the Breeders' Cup and trainer Baffert his record-tying fifth win in the Juvenile.

Based on his unbeaten 2021 campaign, Corniche was an easy winner of the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male.

Corniche is out of the Najran mare Wasted Tears, a six-time graded stakes winner who earned over $940,000 on the track.