Hoppertunity ends skid with Tokyo City triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - Hoppertunity rebounded from a four-race losing streak in the last 14 months with an easy victory in Sunday’s Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita.

Ridden confidently by Flavien Prat, Hoppertunity ($2.40) had a perfect trip and prevailed by 6 1/2 lengths as a heavy favorite in his first career start at 1 1/2 miles. Hoppertunity stalked the pace for the first mile, moved into contention on the backstretch and was in command of the race on the turn.

Prat did not urge Hoppertunity in the final furlong.

“I was trying to stay in the clear on the backstretch,” Prat said. “He grabbed the bit and showed me he wanted to go.”

Twentytwentyvision, claimed for $62,500 last November, closed from last in a field of six to finish second, 5 1/4 lengths clear of 38-1 Moonman. Noble Nick and Beaumarchais completed the order of finish. Infobedad, who was near the front early, was pulled up on the turn and walked off the track.

Hoppertunity was timed in 2:32.63. The $100,345 Tokyo City Cup on dirt was Hoppertunity’s first start of the year. He was fourth in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Dec. 26, the opening day of the track’s winter-spring meeting.

“We thought the mile and a half would be easy on him,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

A 7-year-old horse by Any Given Saturday, Hoppertunity was entered for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 10, but did not start after rain left the track wet-fast. Hoppertunity races for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman and has won 8 of 30 starts and earned $4,407,025.

Hoppertunity has won six stakes, including the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs in 2014 and the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Belmont Park in 2016.

“He can run a mile and an eighth, a mile and a quarter, and a mile and a half,” Prat said.