Cornucopian Impresses With San Carlos Victory

Expectations for Cornucopian have been high ever since he was purchased by agent Donato Lanni for $1.1 million out of Gainesway's consignment at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, but several strokes of bad luck plagued the colt in his previous graded attempts. However, the patience of his connections paid off March 29 as the son of Into Mischief scored in the $100,500 San Carlos Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. The hype was alive and well following Cornucopian's debut at Oaklawn Park in February 2025, winning by 5 3/4 lengths in a performance that was well respected by speed figures. He would then go off the odds-on favorite in the Arkansas Derby (G1) despite stretching out from 6 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, and was caught in what the Equibase chart dubbed a "suicidal" pace duel and finished fourth. Coming back a month later to finish second against allowance foes at Aqueduct Racetrack, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and the large ownership team nicknamed "The Avengers" would opt to give the horse a break. That layoff was supposed to conclude Dec. 28 in the Malibu Stakes (G1), but he would be a scratch in the paddock after losing his footing and falling on his side. Baffert certainly knows talent when he sees it and, after the Malibu incident, decided the best course of action was to build back up through "baby steps." "He's a big, beautiful horse," Baffert told FanDuel TV Sunday, "We've been very high on him all along." Cornucopian again showed flashes of his talent Jan. 31 with a 3-length win against allowance company at Santa Anita, and that appeared to set him up perfectly for a return to the graded ranks. After outbreaking the San Carlos field, jockey Juan Hernandez eased back and sat a perfect stalking trip in third while racing in the clear. Bartholdy would set fractions of :22.16 and :44.03 before Listenupshance would take control at the quarter-pole, but Cornucopian was breathing down his neck. Cornucopian showed signs that there is still more to learn while running on his wrong lead down the lane, but it was evident he was a class above his rivals. He hit the wire 2 3/4 lengths clear while finishing 7 furlongs in a snappy 1:20.71, paying $2.60 to win. Listenupshance finished second while Bartholdy held on for third. Grade 1 winner Subsanador (ARG), making his first start since September 2024, was severely outpaced early, but kicked into high gear in the stretch. Although missing the board in fourth, his strong gallop out in front of the field suggests he'll get back to his old form quickly and as he stretches back out in distance. As for Cornucopian, it's on to bigger and better. "We were hoping he'd run well, and he did," Baffert said. "This was a tough stakes race, there was good horses in there. I love the way he did it. He came back and it looked like it didn't tire him out too much, as fast as he is." Baffert said Cornucopian will likely head east for his next start, but didn't have any specific targets considered yet. Cornucopian was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm and Whisper Hill Farm and races for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings.