Hoppertunity will attempt to go two places better than last season in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan next month after he posted a back-to-back success in the San Antonio Stakes on Saturday night.
Hoppertunity finished third behind California Chrome in the World Cup in March, but after a miraculous last-to-first surge at Santa Anita that handed trainer Bob Baffert his fifth win in the Grade 2 contest in the past eight years, the six year old will travel to Dubai a better horse than ever, according to connections.
Hoppertunity beat stable companion Mor Spirit by a length, who was in turn three-quarters of a length ahead of Accelerate.
“I was really happy about Mor Spirit and I thought for sure turning for home he was going to win it,” Baffert said.
“But Hoppertunity, he just grinded it out and came running.
“There’s nothing like having a good horse. That’s why we’re in the business, so as long as he’s doing well we’ll go to Dubai and see if we can get another win.”
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Baffert gave no indication as to whether stellar stablemate Arrogate will be on the same plane alongside Dubai Golden Shaheen-bound Drefong, and without the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup winner, Hoppertunity is a realistic challenger.
“He’s been doing really well and we’re keeping our fingers crossed,” Karl Watson, a part-owner, said. “I think the goal is to get him back to Dubai. There’s no California Chrome this year, but we don’t know about Arrogate. There’s always somebody.”
Hoppertunity was held up at the back of the seven runners by jockey Flavien Prat. During the early stages, there was eight lengths between El Huerfano at the head of affairs and Hoppertunity. The leader went through fractions of 23.18 seconds for the first quarter mile and 43.30s for the half mile.
Approaching the turn into the bend, Prat moved his mount up to anchor on the tail of the spread-eagled field. Coming out of the turn in to the home stretch, Hoppertunity was still fourth, and four wide, but came charging down the centre of the track.
The San Antonio was reduced in distance compared to 12 months ago and Hoppertunity dealt with the drop back in trip to win the 1700-metre contest in one minute 42.55s
“He needs a full mile and a quarter (2000m),” Baffert said. “He’s a cool horse, whose been around.”
On the undercard, St Joe Bay won the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Sprint and is also likely to head to World Cup night on March 25 for the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
St Joe Bay added to his wins in an allowance race and the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes in December by repelling the fierce challenge of Moe Candy to win by two and a quarter lengths under Kent Desormeaux.
“This horse is just so good right now and he’s got gears,” trainer Peter Miller said. “When the grey horse (Moe Candy) came to him I got a little concerned, but he had another gear.
“I think we’re going to look at maybe the Golden Shaheen. I think he deserves it.”
The last horse to win the 1,200-metre contest and add to that in the Dubai Golden Shaheen was Kinsale King in 2010.
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