Hoppertunity gives Baffert fifth San Pasqual
Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Hoppertunity, ridden by Martin Garcia, gained the lead at the top of the stretch and rolled on to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a fifth crown in Saturday’s $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita.
Hoppertunity, owned by Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman, went off as the 4-5 favorite in the 11-horse field with Majestic Harbor a distant 8-1 second choice.
Leaving from post 2, Hoppertunity was never far off the pace in the 1 1/16- mile stakes. The 4-year-old colt was fourth up the backstretch and easily joined the front-runners on the final turn.
Hoppertunity assumed the lead at the top of the stretch along the inside and drove to a 2 1/4-length victory over 12-1 longshot Appealing Tale with Blue Tone, at 27-1, third.
Completing the order of finish were Tonito M., Big Cazanova, Bronzo, Quadrivium, Majestic Harbor, Mr. Commons, Salto Del Indio and Baccelo.
The time for the San Pasqual on a fast track was 1:41.69.
The win is the fifth for Baffert in the San Pasqual. The Hall of Fame trainer previously won the prep for the Santa Anita Handicap with Silver Charm (1999), Wooden Phone (2002), Congaree (2003) and Coil (2013).
Hoppertunity, making his initial start as a 4-year-old, picked up $120,000 to increase his earnings to $1,070,675. The colt has now won half of his eight career starts with two seconds.
Saturday’s start came less than two months after Hoppertunity captured the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs to close out his 3-year-old campaign. Last year the colt also won the Rebel Stakes at Fair Grounds followed by a runner-up result to California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby.
Hoppertunity was scratched from the Kentucky Derby just days before the race with a quarter crack of a hoof and did not race again until Oct. 29 when he got second in an allowance race at Santa Anita.
Hoppertunity returned $3.60, $2.80 and $2.40. Appealing Tale paid $9.00 and $7.60, and Blue Tone paid $8.60 to show.
Categorized in: Horses