Hoppertunity, Smith team up for San Diego Handicap
DEL MAR, Calif. – In the spring of 2014, Hoppertunity was Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith’s hope for the Kentucky Derby. The colt was second in the Santa Anita Derby to California Chrome but missed the Kentucky Derby because of injury.
Hoppertunity has since won stakes at Santa Anita and Churchill Downs under Martin Garcia. On Saturday, Smith tries for his own stakes win on Hoppertunity in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, a race that could lead to a start in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 22.
Hoppertunity might be favored in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the basis of his nose loss in the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita at 1 1/4 miles on June 27, when ridden by Garcia. Smith said on Thursday he is eager to ride the 4-year-old Hoppertunity in Saturday’s race.
“He’ll have to run the same race as last time,” Smith said. “I’m excited about picking him up.”
Hoppertunity is part of an accomplished field of eight in the San Diego. The competition includes Bayern, who is winless in two starts since a victory in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last November, and Catch a Flight, a two-time stakes winner at Santa Anita in the spring who was third as the 8-5 favorite in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.
KEY CONTENDERS
Hoppertunity (Last 3 Beyers: 98-98-94)
◗ Hoppertunity, trained by Bob Baffert, was third under Smith in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 13 after a four-month layoff. The colt was beaten 5 3/4 lengths by winner Noble Bird, with Lea second.
“I rode him in his first race back, and Bob didn’t have him 100 percent cranked up,” Smith said. “Those two horses that were first and second hooked up and got away from me a bit.”
◗ On Saturday, Smith is likely to have Hoppertunity at the back of the field, well behind expected pacesetter Appealing Tale, who was second in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on June 27. Smith said he doesn’t think the new Del Mar dirt track will play against closers Saturday.
“The track is not as fast,” Smith said. “Horses can come from out of it.”
Bayern (Last 3 Beyers: 57-74-113)
◗ Bayern, who will be ridden by Garcia, has failed to duplicate his 2014 form this year, finishing last of six in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 2 and last of 10 in the Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 6. Those races were around one turn, and a start around two turns might benefit the five-time stakes winner, Baffert said.
“It’s an important race for him,” Baffert said.
Catch a Flight (Last 3 Beyers: 96-106-102)
◗ Catch a Flight was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Hard Aces in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita after leading in the stretch. Jockey Gary Stevens said he moved a bit early in the stretch. Stevens is back on Catch a Flight on Saturday.
◗ In May, Catch a Flight won the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes and Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita, and he should be a danger in this race as a stalker.
Appealing Tale (Last 3 Beyers: 101-101-96)
◗ Appealing Tale has yet to win a stakes but will influence the outcome of this race with his speed.
“He’s sharp and doing well,” trainer Peter Miller said. “He ran a super race to be second last time. I think we’re the quickest horse in there.”