Santa Anita Handicap appealing spot for Imperative

ARCADIA, Calif. - The $500,690 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday was as much a prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 26 as it was a prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 12.

Hoppertunity and Donworth, who finished first and third, are candidates for the Dubai World Cup, their trainers said. Imperative, beaten a nose by Hoppertunity after a troubled trip, will run in the Big Cap, trainer Richard Baltas said.

Imperative was unlucky not to win, according to jockey Mike Smith and Baltas. He raced wide and in traffic approaching the stretch.

“I had to wait for some room to get him out and that really cost me,” Smith said after the race.

Despite a troubled trip, Baltas thought Imperative edged Hoppertunity at the wire.

“I still thought I won,” he said on Sunday. “It’s a tough beat.”

Baltas said he has no interest in a trip to Dubai for a World Cup that may include other American-based runners such as California Chrome, Frosted, and Mshawish.

“If the horse is doing good, I’ll go for the Big Cap,” he said. “I’ll stay home. The guys can have fun in Dubai. There are plenty of races here in the United States.”

Trainer Bob Baffert has considered race winner Hoppertunity a candidate for the Dubai race in recent weeks. Trainer Doug O’Neill said on Sunday that he is optimistic Donworth can be a factor in Dubai. The San Antonio Stakes was Donworth’s first start for O’Neill and owners Paul and Zillah Reddam, who acquired the 4-year-old colt for $550,000 at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

“I think third in the San Antonio gets you into Dubai,” he said. “We’re pumped about how he ran.”