Hoppertunity Continues
Rise in San Pasqual
Hoppertunity rolls to victory in the San Pasqual Stakes.
Around this time last year, Hoppertunitystill had 20 days to go before breaking his maiden. On Jan. 10 at Santa Anita Park, the colt who became a grade I winner at the end of the season continued his rise with a solid score in the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 10 at Santa Anita Park (VIDEO).
Hoppertunity, trained by Hall of Fame horseman Bob Baffert for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, closed out 2014 with a victory in the Nov. 28 Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs off a runner-up finish in an Oct. 29 comeback allowance race at Santa Anita. The Rebel Stakes (gr. II) winner was sidelined before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) due to quarter cracks and for ankle surgery.
Giving Baffert his fifth victory in the 1 1/16-mile San Pasqual, the 4-year-old son of Any Given Saturday made his 2015 debut with a sustained rail bid. Tracking sixth behind the pace set by Big Cazanova for a quarter in :23.40, he steadily moved up—fifth as a half went in :46.35 and fourth when three-quarters went in 1:10.29.
Jockey Martin Garcia found a clear path on the inside as the tiring front-runner drifted out a bit turning for home, and set Hoppertunity down for the drive. The colt responded to shake loose of his competition through a 1:35.17 mile, and sailed clear in the final sixteenth to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:41.69 on a fast track.
"Martin knows him well and I just told him 'Don't chase, get him comfortable...' I was a little concerned with the distance because he wants to go longer," Baffert said. "He ran a really great race. He's the kind of horse who gets better and better and with distance and all. He showed today he's a great horse and he should be one of the top handicap horses this year."
Favored at 4-5 while carrying top weight of 123 pounds in a field of 11, Hoppertunity returned $3.60, $2.80, and $2.40. Appealing Tale got up to be second, worth $9 and $7.60, while Blue Tone was third and paid $8.60.
Tonito M, Big Cazanova, Bronzo, Quadrivium, Majestic Harbor, Mr. Commons, Salto Del Indio, and Baccelo completed the order of finish.
"I rode him with a lot of confidence; I knew I had the best horse," Garcia said. "I just let him break, I saved ground on the rail and I knew they were going fast up front so I just had to wait. I expected that and more."
"We know every race is going to be different, so we'll just let him space his races out," Baffert said. "He could show up anywhere--I don't know yet."
When asked if the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) on March 7 would be considered, Baffert responded, "It could be. Anything's a consideration. He'll be nominated everywhere and we know he ships well."
Bred in Kentucky by Betz/D.J. Stable/Kidder/J. Betz/Robenalt from the Unaccounted For mare Refugee, Hoppertunity improved his record to four wins and two seconds from eight starts while pushing his earnings past the million mark to $1,070,675.
After breaking his maiden last Jan. 30 at Santa Anita and winning the Rebel at Oaklawn Park, Hoppertunity subsequently finished second behind eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).
"He's a damn good horse," said Pegram. "Martin had to use him to get a position and when he pushed the button, he went. This horse has proven he can ship, so we know he can travel and he likes it here. It's nice to have options."
Purchased by Baffert at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale for $300,000 when consigned by Betz Thoroughbreds, Hoppertunity is a half brother to retired multiple grade I winner Executiveprivilege.
