Grade 2 winner Hoppertunity makes return in Wednesday sprint
ARCADIA, Calif. – The focus will be on Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s stable this week long before the Breeders’ Cup races on Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita.
On Wednesday, Baffert starts the promising 3-year-olds Hoppertunity and West Riding, who have reputations to uphold when they start in optional claimers. Both appear in competitive races and will be tested by stablemates and others.
West Riding is part of a field of five in Wednesday’s second race. Four of the entrants won their last starts – Front Range, Mangita, Taste Like Candy, and West Riding.
RACE 2: OPTIONAL CLAIMER
KEY CONTENDERS
West Riding (Last 2 Beyers: 88-81)
◗ Undefeated in two starts, West Riding beat maidens over a mile at Del Mar on July 30 and won an optional claimer there over 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 27. She won the optional claimer by a half-length after leading by two lengths in the stretch but was not fully extended late by jockey Mike Smith, who has the mount Wednesday.
◗ West Riding has been held in high regard all season by owner Juddmonte Farms and Baffert.
“We’re bringing her along slowly,” Baffert said. “The older she gets, the better she’ll get.”
◗ Baffert said he considered West Riding for the Indiana Oaks earlier this month.
“I changed by mind,” he said. “She wasn’t ready to run.”
Front Range (Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-81)
◗ Trained by Baffert, Front Range was the impressive winner of an optional claimer over a mile at Los Alamitos on Sept. 6. She stalked the pace before pulling clear to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
Yahilwa (Last 3 Beyers: 91-82-82)
◗ Yahilwa was fourth in the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes here over 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27, her fifth consecutive loss. She was a game second in an allowance race over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar in August and is a danger as a stalker.
RACE 7: OPTIONAL CLAIMER
KEY CONTENDERS
Hoppertunity (Last 3 Beyers: 98-100-85)
◗ On class, Hoppertunity towers over his rivals, having won the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 15 and finished second to the 3-year-old star California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.
◗ Hoppertunity had a bone chip removed from an ankle following that race and resumed workouts in late August. Baffert said on Sunday that the seven-furlong distance of Wednesday’s seventh race may not be ideal for Hoppertunity, who was fifth in his only sprint, over seven furlongs last January.
“I want to give him an out,” he said. “It’s a little short for him.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Hoppertunity. Trainer Bob Baffert is 19-8-6-2 with a $5.23 ROI over the past five years going route to sprint on dirt following a layoff of 180 days or more.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Sweet Sunshine (Last 3 Beyers: 91-92-86)
◗ Sweet Sunshine won an optional claimer at Del Mar on Sept. 1 and was a closing third in an optional claimer here Oct. 3. Trained by John Sadler, Sweet Sunshine is a threat from off the pace.
Pimpernel (Last 3 Beyers: 66-73-91)
◗ Trained by Baffert for Juddmonte, Pimpernel was the sharp winner of an allowance race here in March, but he struggled in his next two starts. He may appreciate the return to racing on this dirt track.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Syndicated. Trainer Mike Pender is 7-3-0-0 with a $3.02 ROI over the past five years going synthetic to dirt in sprints following a layoff of between 61 and 180 days. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan