Cornucopian, Sand Devil square off in salty Sunday allowance at the Big A; G2 Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez ready for G1 Kentucky Derby bid

• Cornucopian, Sand Devil square off in salty Sunday allowance at the Big A; G2 Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez ready for G1 Kentucky Derby bid
• Cairo Caper brings stakes win to $125K Woodhaven
• Sounds Like a Plan returns in $125K Woodhaven

Sunday’s seventh race at Aqueduct Racetrack, a one-turn allowance optional-claiming mile for sophomores, will feature the well-regarded $1.1 million purchase Cornucopian as part of an eight-horse field that includes graded stakes-placed New York-bred Sand Devil.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the regally-bred Cornucopian [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] made his first two starts at Oaklawn Park, graduating in a six-furlong sprint in February and following with a pacesetting fourth in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 29 that featured exceptionally fast splits.

Cornucopian is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.

The same ownership group campaigns recent Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino-winner Rodriguez, who is a leading contender for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Co-owner Tom Ryan said he was pleased to find a good return spot for Cornucopian.

“He’s really such an exciting colt and we’re happy to find a spot that’s suitable to his conditions. He’s shown us that he has a lot of ability, and hopefully he can show us that again,” Ryan said. “We had a good experience shipping Rodriguez over, and it’s a direct flight in. He shipped to Oaklawn in great shape, and as we know he got into a bit of a speed duel down there.

“He’s a horse that has some potential lofty targets ahead, so we wanted to find the right race to entertain potentially prepping into the next Classic,” Ryan added. “I think we’d look at the Preakness first, and a trip back to New York wouldn’t be [out of the question] either.”

Ryan said the cut back in distance to a one-turn mile is a good starting point for Cornucopian as a bridge to potential Grade 1 tries in the Preakness on May 17 and/or the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

“I think it’s a suitable trip for him to prep going forward,” Ryan said. “He has an air of quality to him that’s hard to duplicate. He’s got strength, but he’s not heavy. He’s got length, but he’s not too long. He’s got size, but he’s not too big. He’s just a beautiful horse that’s right in the middle, perfectly balanced, and he has fluency in his action.

“I remember his first work in California, and it was impressive,” Ryan continued. “You don’t really know until you race them, and you’re always hoping that they’ll progress to the next race and that they’re able to ship and handle different scenarios. His mind is good, his motion is great, and his pedigree is superior. His sire needs no introduction.”

By Into Mischief and out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Magical World, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1-winner Guarana, Grade 3-winner Beatbox and graded stakes-placed Magic Dance. Cornucopian’s second dam is 2005 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff-winner Pleasant Home.

Ryan also offered insight on Kentucky Derby contenders Rodriguez, who shipped into Kentucky on Tuesday, and the ownership group’s reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Citizen Bull, who worked seven-eighths in company in 1:24.20 today over the Santa Anita Park main track.

“He’s training fantastic,” Ryan said of Rodriguez. “He shipped in yesterday and went to the track this morning. He seems to be taking it all in stride. His last work was right on point, and he’ll have another piece of work over the track this weekend. He’s a good-minded horse and he’s quite straightforward. He handled the ship to New York, so he had that under his belt. He’s taken the ship to Kentucky just fine, so we’re excited.

“Citizen Bull had a good work with J.J. Hernandez and he went through his paces well,” Ryan added. “He’s ready, and we’re excited about him, too. His last race was important, but this next one it the target. He ships tomorrow.”

A talented Sunday sophomore allowance field to face Cornucopian is led by Chester Broman, Sr.’s New York homebred Sand Devil [post 5, Jose Lezcano], who won his first three starts against fellow state-breds here culminating in a victory in the Damon Runyon in February. He was a troubled second in the Grade 3 Gotham traveling a one-turn mile in March and landed a distant sixth last out in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 5.

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will be represented by a strong pair in Grade 3-placed Garamond [post 3, Flavien Prat] and maiden winner Keewaydin [post 4, Dylan Davis].

Juddmonte’s Kentucky homebred Garamond graduated on debut sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs in January at Tampa Bay Downs and followed last out with an even third in the Grade 3 Gotham.

Garamond, by Uncle Mo, is out of the Tapit mare Blue Watch. His second dam is the multiple Group 1-winning Hennessy mare Special Duty.

OXO Equine’s Keewaydin, by Instagrand, graduated at second asking in October sprinting seven furlongs at the Big A ahead of a distant fifth in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen to close out his juvenile season.

The $140,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale finished third in his August 24 Travers Day debut at the Spa, a key race won by next out Grade 1-Champagne runner-up Tip Top Thomas and featured fourth-place Sovereignty, a Kentucky Derby-contender, who subsequently took the Grade 3 Street Sense at Churchill Downs and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream.

A stacked field includes a pair from trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. in stakes-placed Ican [post 1, Manny Franco] and maiden winner Toga d’Oro [post 2, John Velazquez]; maiden winner My Mitole [post 6, Christopher Elliott], who was off-the-board last out in the Wood Memorial for trainer Carlos Martin; and maiden winner National Law [post 8, Romero Maragh] for conditioner Jorge Duarte, Jr.

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Cairo Caper brings stakes win to $125K Woodhaven

William B. Thompson, Jr.’s Cairo Caper will carry the field-high 122 pounds as a stakes-winner in Saturday’s $125,000 Woodhaven, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack

The Cairo Prince gelding is making his first start for trainer Phil Schoenthal after a five-start juvenile campaign for conditioner Nathan Squires at Woodbine Racetrack, including a victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Listed Soaring Free in August by three-quarter-lengths over returning rival Dream On.

“This horse had great form last year,” said Schoenthal. “He’s a neat horse. He’s very professional, very mature, very straightforward. He’s kind of a horse that never has a bad day, just puts his head down and goes about his business. All the jockeys breezing him have come back and said he’s really a nice horse and a pleasure to ride.”

Cairo Caper was fourth last out in the Listed Display in October sprinting seven furlongs on Tapeta after a fifth in the one-mile turf Grade 1 Summer in September.

“The current mindset is that we know he likes the grass, and he’s performed well on it,” Schoenthal said. “There’s not a lot of reason to go experimenting. He’s breezed OK over the dirt, and I think I prefer him over the poly surface here [Fair Hill]. But if the opportunity comes to run on the dirt, we’re happy to see what he does on it.”

Cairo Caper breezed six furlongs in 1:16 flat over the Fair Hill dirt on April 15 ahead of a 38.20 seconds three-furlong move on Monday.

“This horse is coming off a layoff, and we’re trying to get him fit to go two turns. He’s certainly capable of breezing that extra eighth of a mile, so why not do that,” Schoenthal explained of the longer work. “He galloped out well and came back good, ate up good, and hopefully it helps him.”

Saturday’s forecast calls for rain which does not concern Schoenthal.

“They will typically leave the stakes on the grass even if they are going to take the other ones off. We are not looking for a dirt race, but if one of these grass races happens to come off the turf, I think we are all interested to see how he performs on it,” Schoenthal said. “We’ve got some other targets in the next month or two that we’re looking at, so I think it is important to get a race into him and get him back into a cycle. I think that we’re very likely to run the horse either way.”

Cairo Caper, a $50,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the winning Summer Front mare Summer Clothes, a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Bell’s the One and graded stakes-winner King Cause.

Victor Carrasco is slated to ride for the first time from post 5.

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Sounds Like a Plan returns in $125K Woodhaven

Club Sixty Five Racing’s New York-bred Sounds Like a Plan will make his return off a five-month respite in Saturday’s $125,000 Woodhaven, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Horacio De Paz, the son of Twirling Candy was last seen finishing an even fourth in the Listed Central Park against open company over course and distance in November. There, he tracked second throughout before fading in the lane and finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind the victorious Jack and Jim.

De Paz said he is pleased with the way Sounds Like a Plan has returned from a winter freshening in Florida.

“He’s doing really well and we’re looking forward to getting him started,” De Paz said. “He’s very fit and looks good, he was down in Florida for the winter at Niall Brennan’s and they did a great job with him. He’s trained very forwardly with no hiccups.”

The bay colt debuted with a fourth against open company in a September off-the-turf event here before adding blinkers and switching to turf in his second start for a 2 1/4-length graduation against fellow state-breds traveling 1 1/16 miles here in October.

De Paz added he is encouraged by the development he has seen from the bay since he returned to training.

“He’s matured a little more physically, and he was always a pretty solid colt as a 2-year-old, but he looks like he has filled out even more,” De Paz said. “He’ll need to take a step up here. It’s a small field, but it’s competitive and anybody can win it. He needs to be right on his game, so we’ll see.”

Bred by Wildwood Farm, Sounds Like a Plan was a $95,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale and is out of the unraced Speightstown mare Court Dress, making him a half-brother to Grade 3-placed Runnin’ Ray and dual stakes-placed Estilo Femenino.

Kendrick Carmouche rides from the outermost post 7.

De Paz also confirmed that stakes-placed Twenty Six Black will likely make his seasonal bow in the Listed $150,000 Elusive Quality, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for older horses on May 3 at the Big A.

A New York homebred for Roger Cimbora, Jr., the 5-year-old War Dancer gelding has been a model of consistency, hitting the board in 9-of-11 outings including a game second to Ramblin’ Wreck in the 2023 NYSSS Spectacular Bid sprinting seven furlongs over the Aqueduct green.

“He’s doing very well, and he’s always been the barn favorite,” De Paz said. “It looks like he had a good winter as well and hopefully he can continue to improve as he’s done each year. His resume suits that he can fight with those horses, so it’s just a matter of if he can continue to improve off the layoff.”

Twenty Six Black finished first or second in 5-of-6 starts last year, including a trio of efforts that garnered 90+ Beyer Speed Figures to conclude his season, capped by a one-length fourth in the Listed Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship on November 9.

“He’s a very nice horse, and has faced nice horses against open company,” De Paz said. “He didn’t run bad there in that stake to finish fourth first time against open stakes company, and he had a long campaign, too.”

Twenty Six Black is out of the First Dude mare Brazo de Oro, who also produced turf stakes-placed Can’t Fool Me. Twenty Six Black has banked $342,560 through a lifetime record of 11-5-3-1.