Bob Baffert on target at the Breeders' Cup amid doping controversies

Friday: Breeders' Cup, Del Mar

Bob Baffert, the biggest name in racing in the States whose Breeders' Cup runners have been under scrutiny after doping controversies, was back in the headlines for all the right reasons when Corniche gave him a record-equalling fifth triumph in the Juvenile.

The son of Quality Road defied a wide draw to make all under Baffert's old sparring partner Mike Smith.

Pappacap was second with Giant Game third, but they were no match for the runaway winner.

No jockey has won more Breeders' Cup races than the 27 Smith has shone in and he said: "He's really impressive, a pro. Today was the first day he got a bit excited and warm, but that may have been because of the crowd. He's dynamite.

"There's something about the Breeders' Cup that takes me to another level. I turn 18 again and I have a blast here and if I keep talking I'll start crying!"

Breeders' Cup Juvenile: full result

The 56-year-old Smith, now the second-oldest rider to win a race at the meeting behind Bill Shoemaker, has seen his rides scaled back in 2021, but added: "I don't plan to retire anytime soon – I still feel too good."

Baffert's five Juvenile victories place him alongside the great D Wayne Lukas, whose all-time Breeders' Cup tally of 20 keeps him two clear of his great rival.

"I knew from the 12 hole we'd have to use him harder than we'd like to, but Mike Smith is such a great rider and I love him on a speed horse like that," said Baffert.

"He gave him a little breather, but they came to him. You don't know how good they are as they've never been tested and he kicked back in and fought those horses off.

"It's so hard to win these races. It's a relief when you've got the favourite, but it's also exciting because they're young horses."

Corniche powers home for Mike Smith in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Baffert is contesting the result of his Kentucky Derby hero Medina Spirit's post-race positive for a prohibited substance, but – as it stands – is banned from having runners at Churchill Downs, a suspension the New York Racing Association also tried to dish out only for the Hall of Fame trainer to be granted an injunction.

He was allowed to have runners at the Breeders' Cup, but they faced increased testing and security protocols, which have come at the legendary 68-year-old's expense.

He added: "I welcome everything. I want people to know Bob Baffert is a good trainer who takes care of his horses.

"I want to win these races for my clients and have a great team and staff. I keep focused and don't listen to the clutter. If you do that, you'll get these results.

"I have a huge support system and I'm just happy this horse ran so well."

Pizza Bianca (Jose Ortiz) wins the Juvenile Fillies Turf after threading the perfect passageCredit: Edward Whitaker

Juvenile Fillies Turf: Ortiz delivers a masterclass on Pizza Bianca

Christophe Clement, who had gone a whopping 41 runners without success at the Breeders' Cup, finally scratched that itch when Pizza Bianca, owned and bred by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, charged home for a tasty victory in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, in which Cachet nearly pulled off a shock win for George Boughey after an enterprising ride.

She had to settle for fourth as Pizza Bianca got going powerfully in the inspired hands of Jose Ortiz, while Malavath claimed second under Ryan Moore with Haughty third.

Ortiz said: "They were going plenty fast early on, so I sat back and she relaxed well. Somehow, I ended up three wide – wider than I wanted – but she was travelling good and I felt like I had a lot of horse underneath me.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: full result

"When she saw daylight, she was flying down the lane. Christophe didn't really tell me much, just to save ground and I'm very happy for him, his first Breeders' Cup win.

"He deserves it and has been in the game a long time – he's a great trainer."

Widely regarded as the best trainer in the States never to have won at the celebrated fixture – until now – Clement said: "I'm delighted, thrilled. Thanks a lot to Bobby Flay, the owner and breeder, and we've obviously got a good one, while we got a great ride from Jose, so I'm absolutely thrilled."

A one-time Luca Cumani assistant, the Paris-born Clement, whose father Miguel trained in Chantilly, has a CV littered with Grade 1 prizes, including the 2014 Belmont Stakes, which he bagged in 2014 with Tonalist, but a Breeders' Cup strike was sweet.

"She looks like a three-year-old and trains like a three-year-old and she's top class," he added of his special winner. "I was never in doubt [about having a winner here]!"

'It was a huge run'

Flay won the race with More Than Real 11 years ago and was also savouring the glory.

"I can't believe it, but this is what it's all about," he said. "If you're thinking for one second of getting into horseracing, this is the moment and winning a Breeders' Cup race is a dream come true.

"I have to give a shout out to Jose Ortiz who was amazing and I'm not sure how he threaded the needle, but he did, while Christophe was the best trainer in the world never to have won at the Breeders' Cup, but that story is over."

Boughey will hope he does not have to wait as long as Clement for a similar success and said of Cachet: "It was a huge run and I'm delighted for her owners Highclere. She's proved she's a global Group 1 filly, so it's great.

"It's a huge honour to be out here and I'm delighted."

Luis Saez did the steering and added: "She was running pretty good and was comfortable. For a minute I thought we'd win the race, but they ran by her in the end."

Easy as you like: Echo Zulu and Joel Rosario land the Juvenile Fillies by a wide marginCredit: Edward Whitaker

Juvenile Fillies: Echo Zulu stars for Asmussen

Steve Asmussen, on top of the world the last time Del Mar hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2017 when Gun Runner captured the Classic, had another reason to cheer his former champion, whose daughter Echo Zulu bolted up in the Juvenile Fillies on Friday's card.

Gun Runner also showed his talent by winning the Pegasus World Cup in 2018, but was then retired to the stallion ranks and his first runners hit the track this year.

They include the heavily fancied Echo Zulu, already a dual Grade 1 winner thanks to her victories in the Spinaway and Frizette and who had way too much for Juju's Map and Tarabi.

Joel Rosario, not messing about on the short-priced favourite by sending her straight into the lead, said: "She's super fast and does everything so easy. Steve told me not to get in her way and let her do her thing.

"She broke well and was enjoying what she was doing, so I was very confident."

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: full result

Rosario, recording his 14th Breeders' Cup triumph, was sealing his third in the Juvenile Fillies after Vequist last year and Jaywalk in 2018.

It was a second win in the race and eighth at the meeting for Asmussen, part of racing royalty in the States and whose older brother Cash won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1991 on Suave Dancer.

He said: "What a tremendous filly she is. We're so honoured and blessed to be a part of her, and what it means for Gun Runner's progeny to be this fast.

"She's the fastest so we let her be who she is. She was the favourite and we just needed more of the same – it was beautiful the way she did it. That's her third different track and third Grade 1, what a champion she is.

"She's such a special story and started under Dad's [Keith] tutelage – what could be better than sharing this with beautiful people?"

Twilight Gleaming (Irad Ortiz, yellow) holds her rivals in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del MarCredit: Edward Whitaker

Juvenile Turf Sprint: Twilight Gleaming sparkles for Wesley Ward

Wesley Ward is always a solid starting point when it comes to fast two-year-olds and the trainer showed his prowess with them again on Friday when Twilight Gleaming won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

Second to Quick Suzy in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot in June, Twilight Gleaming raced handily under Irad Ortiz and stayed on powerfully to deny Dave Loughane's raider Go Bears Go.

The result gave Ward his third straight win in the race.

Twilight Gleaming (Irad Ortiz) and Wesley Ward after Friday's Juvenile Turf Sprint triumphCredit: Edward Whitaker

They came with Four Wheel Drive and Golden Pal, who were also partnered by Ortiz, who said: "I've got lucky the last couple of years and thank God, who is with me all the time, and thanks Wesley Ward for giving me the opportunities.

"I've always liked this filly from day one and told Wesley that."

Ward, who also ran Kaufymaker (third) and Averly Jane (fifth) in the race, said: "I was very confident in this filly. I feel bad for the other two owners as we're all trying to win here, but this filly had good spacing from her race in France in August and every bit of her work at Keeneland just kept getting better and better, so I knew she was fresh and fit and ready to go."

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint: full result

Twilight Gleaming runs in the colours of Stonestreet Stables, whose head Barbara Banke was praised by Ward.

He added: "I'm not just saying this because she's Barbara Banke, but she's been a loyal supporter of mine since she got the itch to go to England [and have runners] and we've got some good horses. She's such a great lady who loves the sport."

Ward, who is likely to aim the winner at Royal Ascot next summer and whose charge is 8-1 for the Commonwealth Cup with Paddy Power, is a familiar face to Flat fans in Britain, but the success goes down as a home win despite the bold late effort of Go Bears Go, who hails from the Shropshire yard of rising force Loughnane.

Go Bears Go: Dave Loughnane-trained juvenile ran a stormer to finish second at Del MarCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The son of Kodi Bear gave the trainer his biggest win in the Railway Stakes and clearly means a huge amount.

"I'm quite emotional," said Loughnane. "He's a superstar and has taken us to new heights – he's been life-changing for us.

"I said five furlongs might be too sharp for him and in another five yards he wins. Johnny [Velazquez] said he just sat in the stalls, which he's never done in his life. He's done it today and it's probably the losing of the race, but you can't be disappointed and he's lost nothing in defeat."

'He ran a stormer'

Go Bears Go is part-owned by football super agent Kia Joorabchian, who said: "Coming to the Breeders' Cup and finishing second is incredible, but it's heartbreaking too. He ran a stormer and has always shown a lot of heart.

"I've been a supporter of a lot of young trainers this year – Alice Haynes, George Boughey and Dave, and I'm really proud of what they've done."

Hierarchy was a respectable sixth for Hugo Palmer, one place ahead of the Brian Meehan-trained Vertiginous, while Richard Hannon had to settle for eighth with Armor.

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