Bob Baffert, the trainer of Hoppertunity, on Sunday morning at Santa Anita said the Rebel winner would run next in either the Santa Anita Derby on April 5, or return to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby on April 12.
Hoppertunity was a half-length winner over Tapiture in Saturday's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and after a lengthy inquiry as well as a jockey’s objection concerning the stretch run, the results stood in a finish that moves the Bob Baffert trainee further down the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Trainers Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher plan to invade New Mexico with two shippers each next Sunday for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby.
Wildcat Red turned in his first official workout since winning the Feb. 22 Fountain of Youth when he breezed an easy three furlongs in 34.61 seconds shortly after the first renovation break Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Kristo, third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 8, is a candidate for the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5 as a last-chance prep for the Kentucky Derby, trainer John Sadler said.
Samraat and Uncle Sigh, the one-two finishers in both the Grade 3 Withers and Grade 3 Gotham, remain in lockstep, at least as far as their preparation for the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 5 is concerned, as both 3-year-olds returned to the work tab Saturday.
The Admiral can hit the Triple Crown trail if he wins a $58,000 allowance race at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, is in light training at Golden Gate Fields following a layoff from an injured foot earlier this year, but will not be ready for the Triple Crown, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Thursday.
Bayern, the unbeaten 3-year-old scratched from the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 8, has resumed racetrack exercise, Bob Baffert said.
When Hoppertunity races in the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn on Saturday, he could very well make amends for his recent defeat in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds.
