ArkDerby: Can Cornucopian follow Taiba’s path to KyDerby off two starts?
(Oaklawn Park barn notes by publicist Robert Yates (Yates photo above of Cornucopian winning his debut at Oaklawn Park)
The blueprint is rare, but there. Afterall, it was drawn up, sort of, by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Three years after Taiba went from a dazzling debut victory at 6 furlongs to winning a major Kentucky Derby prep race at 1 1/8 miles in his next start, Cornucopian can do the same Saturday at Oaklawn in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1).
Baffert trains Cornucopian, the 7-5 program favorite off just one start – a smashing debut victory Feb. 23 at Oaklawn. The $1.1 million son of Into Mischief rolled home by 5 ¾ front-running lengths in the fastest 6 furlongs (1:09.02) for a 3-year-old maiden in Oaklawn history. Cornucopian earned a gaudy 101 Beyer Speed Figure.
Taiba, a $1.7 million son of Gun Runner, won his March 5, 2022, career debut at Santa Anita by 7 ½ lengths for Baffert and the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his next start. The Santa Anita Derby carries an asterisk.
Ineligible to collect Kentucky Derby qualifying points because of Baffert’s suspension from Churchill Downs, Taiba was moved to trainer Tim Yakteen shortly before the Santa Anita Derby in early April. Taiba collected the points and, in his third lifetime start, finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby.
“It can be done with the right horse,” Baffert said Wednesday morning. “Now the Derby effort wasn’t very pretty, but it can be done.”
Cornucopian is among nine horses entered in the Arkansas Derby, which produced the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner in third-place finisher Mystik Dan. Probable post time for the Arkansas Derby, the 13th race, is 6:48 p.m. (Central).
Hall of Famer John Velazquez is named to ride Cornucopian from post 9. Baffert is seeking his record-extending sixth Arkansas Derby victory. He won the race in 2012 (Bodemeister), 2015 (American Pharoah), both 2020 divisions (Charlatan and Nadal) and 2024 (Muth).
Cornucopian will be Baffert’s most lightly raced Arkansas Derby starter. Charlatan won the race’s first division in his third lifetime start. Bodemeister and Nadal each won the race in their fourth lifetime starts. The Arkansas Derby was the fifth lifetime start for American Pharoah, who swept the Triple Crown and was named 2015 Horse of the Year. Muth was making his sixth lifetime start in the Arkansas Derby.
“He’s different,” Baffert said, when asked if Cornucopian reminded him of any of his 15 Arkansas Derby starters. “He has a good mind. He’s not an aggressive horse. He handles everything really well. Like when you see him gallop, he’s not aggressive at all, which is good.”
In a perfect world following the flashy maiden victory, Baffert said Cornucopian would have made his two-turn debut in a first-level allowance race, then, if successful, resurface in a major Kentucky Derby points race like the Arkansas Derby or the Santa Anita Derby. Charlatan followed that path in 2020. So did unbeaten Justify, who was also trained by Baffert.
Justify made all six career starts at 3, the first coming Feb. 18, 2018, at Santa Anita. Justify, in his two-turn debut, won an allowance race in March and the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in April before capturing the Triple Crown.
Baffert said Cornucopian is playing catch up after suffering a “little setback” when ready to run last summer at Del Mar.
Initially, Baffert said he considered Cornucopian for the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 mile Sunday at Oaklawn. But after three workouts earlier this month at Santa Anita, including a 6-furlong bullet (1:11.80) March 17, Cornucopian, Baffert decided, would make his two-turn debut in the Arkansas Derby and stablemate Gaming, a finalist for an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion 2-year-old male, was entered in the Hot Springs.
The Arkansas Derby will offer 200 total points (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) to its top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby May 3 at Churchill Downs. Cornucopian will likely need a top two finish to secure a spot in a race limited to 20 starters.
“He might be a little underdone right now, but he’s a very talented, quality colt,” Baffert said. “I’m not looking for points. I’m trying to win a Grade 1 with him. We’ll see how he runs. We’ll know if he can handle it or not. It would have been ideal to have a second out in him. Going long would be ideal. It’s asking a lot, but he would run just as hard if he went a mile, a mile and a sixteenth. I guess we’ll know right away, when they turn for home.”
Cornucopian is out of Magical World, making him a half-brother to millionaire Guarana, a Grade 1 winner at 1 1/8 miles. Into Mischief has been North America’s champion sire six consecutive years.
Cornucopian races for a high-profile ownership group that includes SF Racing (Gavin Murphy), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf), Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin) and Stonestreet Stables (Barbara Banke).
“It’s a big jump,” Baffert said. “I thought he’s doing well enough to take a crack at it. He’s a very talented horse. A lot of times talent overcomes their experience.”
Moquett hoping for Southwest version of Speed King
Speed King was just that in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 25 at Oaklawn, wiring a field in the major 1 1/16-miles Kentucky Derby prep race.
The setup was different for Speed King in his last start, Oaklawn’s $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 23. Madaket Road grabbed the lead and Speed King, fourth early, labored during the second half of the race and finished 10th, beaten 15 lengths by Coal Battle.
Speed King has a chance at redemption in the nine-furlong $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) Saturday for his Hot Springs connections, co-owner Ted Bowman and trainer Ron Moquett. Speed King won his debut at Churchill Downs last fall.
“We want a good trip,” Moquett said Thursday afternoon. “I think the other day we didn’t get a very favorable trip and it was my fault because I asked the rider (Rafael Bejarano) to take him back to save ground and we got caught wide. I really believe we’re more a representation of the Southwest than we are of the Rebel, if we get a good trip.”
Bejarano retains the mount on Speed King, who is scheduled to break from post 5 in the nine-horse field. The gray son of Volatile, a Grade 1 winner sprinting, is 15-1 on the morning line.
Moquett laughed when asked if Speed King will be more of a forward factor Saturday.
“I’m not stating that, but I’m just saying that I’m not going to tell the rider to take back,” he said.
The Arkansas Derby will offer 200 total points (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) to its top five finishers toward Kentucky Derby starting eligibility. Speed King ranks 23rd on the latest Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 25 points. The race is limited to 20 starters.
Team Lukas
Two Oaklawn maiden special weight graduates will chase Kentucky Derby qualifying points next month in Kentucky for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
One needs them. The other doesn’t.
Lukas said Thursday morning that Caldera will be wheeled back in the $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) April 5 at Keeneland, while American Promise is headed to the $400,000 Lexington Stakes (G3) April 12 at Keeneland.
Caldera could have punched his Kentucky Derby ticket in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) last Saturday at Fair Grounds, but he finished a troubled eighth, beaten 36 lengths by Oaklawn-raced Tiztastic, another Kentucky-based horse that won two races at Kentucky Downs and placed in two stakes at Churchill Downs.
Caldera stumbled and was “brushed by rivals on both sides at the start,” according to footnotes from the official race chart, steadied near the wire the first time and was never a threat in the 1 3/16-miles race.
Caldera was also under consideration for the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) Saturday at Oaklawn, but Lukas decided on the Louisiana Derby because the additional week would give the Liam’s Map colt another shot in a Kentucky Derby points race if he misfired at Fair Grounds.
“That was the whole idea,” Lukas said. “I tell you what, he didn’t get a chance to run at all. When they fall like that out of the gate, they don’t pick it up. It’d be a miracle for him to win.”
Caldera earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for finishing second, beaten a nose by Getaway Car, in the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 16 at Sunland Park. Caldera launched his 3-year-old campaign with a front-running 5 ½-length maiden special weight victory Jan. 17 at Oaklawn. That race was also 1 1/16 miles.
Like the Arkansas Derby and Louisiana Derby, the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass will award 200 total points (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) to its top five finishers toward Kentucky Derby starting eligibility. The race is limited to 20 starters. Caldera, who is owned by MyRacehorse, ranks 40th on the official Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 10 points.
American Promise secured a Kentucky Derby spot after winning his last start, the $500,000 Virginia Derby March 15 at Colonial Downs. American Promise collected 50 points for his track-record performance – 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.41 – and has 55 overall to rank eighth.
American Promise returned to the work tab Tuesday morning at Oaklawn, covering five furlongs in :59.80 in advance of the 1 1/16-mile Lexington.
“I don’t want a seven-week break, trying to win the Kentucky Derby,” Lukas said. “The whole idea is trying to win the Derby and I think in order to win the Derby, I would feel better if I had another out in him.”
American Promise broke his maiden Dec. 29, which marked Oaklawn’s third annual card exclusively for 2-year-olds.
Innovator, who also broke his maiden Dec. 29 at Oaklawn for Lukas, is pointing for the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) May 3 at Churchill Downs. Innovator was removed from Kentucky Derby consideration after finishing eighth in the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at 1 1/8 miles last Saturday at Turfway Park.
“He’ll be really tough there,” Lukas said. “I’m going to keep him at a mile or under from now on.”
Lukas does have an Arkansas Derby entrant in Bestfriend Rocket, who is owned by prominent Arkansas businessman Frank Fletcher. Bestfriend Rocket has won three of his last four starts, including a 1 1/16-mile allowance race March 2 at Oaklawn. It marked the Curlin colt’s first start for Lukas.
“Why not?” Lukas said. “His (speed) numbers say that be belongs.”
Bestfriend Rocket is 20-1 on the morning line for Lukas, who won the Arkansas Derby in 1984 with a filly, Althea, and again in 1985 with Tank’s Prospect. Lukas, 89, is a four-time Kentucky Derby winner.
Just a Fantasy
Although Take Charge Milady is entered in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) Saturday at Oaklawn, she may be re-routed to the Ashland Stakes (G1) April 4 at Keeneland, trainer Kenny McPeek said Thursday morning. Both $750,000 1 1/16-mile races are major Kentucky Oaks preps.
“It seems like the Ashland may be coming up a little light for a Grade 1, and I’m not so sure another week wouldn’t help her,” McPeek said.
Take Charge Milady has made her last four starts at Oaklawn, breaking her maiden Jan. 5 before winning the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes Jan. 25 and, in her last start, finishing a troubled 10th in the $500,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) Feb. 23.
McPeek said he would watch Take Charge Milady train Thursday and Friday and “probably decide” Friday afternoon on the Fantasy or Ashland. Both races will offer 200 total points (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) to their top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Take Charge Milady ranks 21st on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 20 points. The race is limited to 14 starters.
McPeek won the 2024 Fantasy and Kentucky Oaks with eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.
McPeek said Thorpedo Anna and 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan arrived late Tuesday afternoon at Oaklawn after previously being based at Fair Grounds. McPeek said both horses are scheduled to work Saturday.
Thorpedo Anna is pointing for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 12 at Oaklawn. She won the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 8 at Oaklawn in her 2025 debut.
Honor Marie Returns Saturday
Grade 2 winner Honor Marie is scheduled to make his 4-year-old debut in the inaugural $145,000 American Pharoah Stakes for older horses Saturday at Oaklawn.
The 1 1/16-miles American Pharoah, for horses that haven’t won a stakes race in 2024-2025, drew a strong cast of 10, including 3-1 program favorite Maycocks Bay for trainer Michael Stidham and Bishops Bay, the early 7-2 second choice, for trainer Brad Cox. Maycocks Bay and Bishops Bay land in the American Pharoah after scratching from the $500,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles last Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Honor Marie hasn’t started since finishing eighth, beaten 34 lengths by champion Fierceness, in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 ¼ miles Aug. 24 at Saratoga. The American Pharoah will be Honor Marie’s first start against older horses.
“It had been a long year and we just wanted to give him a little bit of a break after the Travers,” Louisville-based trainer Whit Beckman said Wednesday afternoon. “It turned out to be the right thing. He’s grown up a lot, put on a good amount of mass. He just looks like an older, more solid horse. He’s moving really, really well. At the end of last year, you could tell time was catching up with him.”
After winning the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles in November 2023 at Churchill Downs, Honor Marie prepped for the Triple Crown at Fair Grounds. He was runner-up in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at 1 3/16 miles before finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont Stakes. The late-running son of Honor Code then ran in the Travers, which was also his first start in blinkers.
Honor Marie removes blinkers for the American Pharoah.
“I don’t think they were of any use in the Travers,” Beckman said. “We thought maybe we might be able to change a little bit of his style, but I think it’s just him.”
Honor Marie was again based this winter at Fair Grounds, where he recorded 10 published workouts, the first coming Jan. 17. Beckman said the American Pharoah is a good spot to ease Honor Marie back into graded-stakes company.
“We just decided, yeah, we would give him a shot here,” said Beckman, who trains Honor Marie for Ribble Farms and K E M Racing Stable. “We could give him a few more works, but at the end of the day you’ve got to run them at some point, so we might as well start here.”
Honor Marie (5-1) is scheduled to break from post 9 under Jose Ortiz. A $40,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate in 2022, Honor Marie has a 2-2-0 record from eight lifetime starts and earnings of $638,675. The American Pharoah also drew Grade 3 winner Liberal Arts for Cox, Grade 2-placed Bendoog for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Quality Chic, runner-up in the $175,000 Tinsel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 5 at Oaklawn for trainer Jason Cook.
The American Pharoah goes as the 11th race, with probable post time 5:12 p.m. (Central).
