Palos Verdes win earns Hopkins a trip to Dubai for the Golden Shaheen
Hopkins won his first stakes in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita last Sunday. He is scheduled to run next in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Sprint in Dubai on March 25, trainer Bob Baffert said on Thursday.
A 5-year-old horse by Quality Road, Hopkins won the $200,500 Palos Verdes Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths, finishing six furlongs in 1:08.80. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Hopkins stalked pacesetter Straight No Chaser to early stretch before pulling clear.
Hopkins has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $244,700.
A $900,000 yearling purchase in 2019, Hopkins was last of six in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 26 in his stakes debut. Hopkins finished second in an allowance race at six furlongs on Jan. 15 in his first start of 2023.
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“He’s a big horse and he’s improving,” Baffert said. “He’s massive. He weighed like 1,300 pounds. He’s 1,248 now. He’s starting to trim up and look good.”
The $2 million Golden Shaheen is run at six furlongs, and is on the same program at Meydan Racecourse as the $12 million Dubai World Cup.
Hopkins is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable, Stonestreet Stables, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm and Robert Masterson.
Prince Abama and Masteroffoxhounds, the first two finishers of Sunday’s Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes on turf, are staying in California.
Trainer Phil D’Amato said the pair will be pointed for the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on April 8, the same day as the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
“It gives them a nice little break,” D’Amato said.
In the $202,500 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf, Prince Abama closed from sixth in a field of 10 to catch stretch leader Masteroffoxhounds in the final strides and win by a neck.
Owned by Michael House, Prince Abama has won stakes in two of his last three starts. A 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Tamayuz, Prince Abama won the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 25.
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