'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard CORNUCOPIAN (c, 4, Into Mischief–Magical World, by Distorted Humor) hit a traffic jam nearing the quarter pole of a 6 1/2-furlong Santa Anita allowance on Saturday, but it proved but a minor inconvenience, as he got his feet back under him, quickly took a gap at the rail inside of a rival and was off and gone in his first start in nearly 10 months.
The 1-2 chalk returning off an allowance defeat going a mile at Aqueduct last spring, the $1.1 million Keeneland September purchase hit the ground running, but so did several of his rivals and he was outfooted through an opening quarter mile in :21.65. Advancing inside on the turn with a wall of horses in front of him, the bay colt was stymied and was taken hold of by Juan Hernandez, losing significant momentum for a stride or two. But he was just as quickly back on the attack, as he hit the gap like a blitzing cornerback confronts an opposing quarterback and was in hand in the final 50 yards. The final time was a very slick 1:15.68.
Cornucopian was tabbed a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard when decimating a field of Oaklawn maidens last February, but he was pitched in at the deep end in the GI Arkansas Derby, where he disputed suicidal fractions and did exceedingly well to be fourth. A no-excuses runner-up last time at the Big A, Cornucopian was getting the blinkers off for the first time on Saturday.
A daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold), Magical World is the dam of two other 'Rising Stars', including treble Grade I winner Guarana (Ghostzapper), $1,078,268; and SW & GSP Magic Dance (More Than Ready), $191,083. Also the dam of Beatbox (Pioneerof the Nile), GSW, $427,248, Magical World was purchased by Whisper Hill Farm and Three Chimneys for a sales-topping $5.2 million at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Guarana changed hands for $4.4 million at the same event and has since produced a pair of seven-figure KEESEP yearlings. Her then-yearling colt by Curlin made $500,000 at last year's September Sale. Cornucopian has a 3-year-old full-sister named Touch of Magic and a yearling half-sister by Good Magic. Magical World was barren to Not This Time for 2026.
8th-Santa Anita, $72,260, Alw (NW1$X), Opt. Clm ($50,000), 1-31, 4yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:15.68, ft, 3 lengths.
CORNUCOPIAN (c, 4, Into Mischief–Magical World, by Distorted Humor) Sales history: $1,100,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $205,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC & Whisper Hill Farm, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
#5 CORNUCOPIAN ($3.00) gets through on the rail and wins his return in the 8th race at @SantaAnitaPark. @JJHernandezS19 rode the four-year-old Into Mischief (@SpendthriftFarm) colt for trainer Bob Baffert. @StarlightRacing @MadaketStables @StonestreetFarm @TomRyanKY pic.twitter.com/Gjkf0GL0C4
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 1, 2026
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