Martin Drexler and Saffie Joseph will be present at Woodbine with a few horses owned by C2 Racing Stable, the owners of the legendary horse White Abarrio.
Mark Cornett, the owner, was speaking with Canadian Thoroughbred shortly before he successfully bid $140,000 on a lovely 2-year-old filly by Malibu Moon at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales April auction on Wednesday. They talked about their successful C2 RACING STABLE, which he and his brother Clint own, and their interest in racing a few horses at Woodbine in 2024.
Mark, from Naples, Florida, and Clint, from Flower Mound, Texas, have been horse owners for a few decades and are avid racegoers. In 2021, they founded C2 Racing Stable, which races horses either alone or in conjunction with other people.
You may be familiar with Cornett's best horse right now, the outstanding WHITE ABARRIO, who won the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita in 2023 and has earned over $5 million. White Abarrio, trained by Rick Dutrow and co-owned by Prince Faisal and La Milagrosa Stable, has been one of the best thoroughbred race horses of the past ten years. He is now expected to make a reappearance in the Belmont meeting at Saratoga in early June.
Mark Cornett revealed they are sending a couple of fillies to Woodbine with Martin Drexler, who finished second in the Woodbine trainer standings the previous year while looking over the 2-year-olds at the Ocala sale.
Mark remarked, "I adore Woodbine's options in their stakes program, especially for fillies." Races on turf and synthetic surfaces range from six furlongs to one and a half miles. Additionally, they have the option of one-turn [grass races].
Cornett stated that as the Woodbine season, which starts on April 27, approaches, they plan to add to Drexler's C2 runners.
"His horses looked really impressive, and I was watching Marty down here in Florida," Mark remarked. "I observed his proficiency with recent purchases and his ability to ride a horse in a race; his horses run for him."
Mark mentioned that since he and Clint founded the C2 Racing Stable, they had over 100 stakes horses for them and their partners, with a win percentage of 27%. They carefully select the horses they purchase, preferring to purchase privately as opposed to claiming.
The Cornett brothers had two good fillies races at Woodbine last season, though they haven't visited yet but intend to shortly. Due back at Woodbine this week is their best 3-year-old filly, MYSTIC LAKE (Mo Town), trained by Saffie Joseph, a Canadian, with planned runs in the Star Shoot Stakes on opening day, April 27, and the Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3) in July. Co-owned by Stefania Farms, LLC, Mystic Lake finished second in the Glorious Song Stakes and third in the Mazarine Stakes (G3) after winning her maiden at Woodbine last autumn.
The Cornetts entered Blind Spot in the Star Shoot Stakes in April of last year, and they watched as she won the race by a closely contested neck before being disqualified and finishing in second place.
The two fillies in Drexler's barn are multiple winner Queen Macha and her hot sire Oscar Performance's promising maiden filly Literate.
Regarding the C2 horses slated to compete at Woodbine, Mark stated, "We're pretty excited."