Hoppertunity is a go for Gold Cup at Santa Anita Park

After almost calling an audible and keeping Hoppertunity in the ba, trainer Bob Baffert has decided he’ll run the 3-1 moing-line favorite in Saturday’s $500,000 Grade I Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Hoppertunity, the most accomplished of the eight horses in the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup, has not raced since finishing third, beaten four lengths by Califoia Chrome, in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26. He galloped Friday moing after working six furlongs last Saturday, and Baffert decided to give it a go.

“I liked the way he went,” Baffert said. “He may be a work short for the race, but he went well this moing so we plan to run.”

Hoppertunity, who has eaed nearly $900,000 more than any of the other ruers in the field by finishing in the money in 15 of his 19 races, has never won at a mile and a quarter in three tries, but he’s got a second-place finish and a third in the Dubai race to show for his efforts.

Hall of Famer Mike Smith will hop aboard the 5-year-old son of Any Given Saturday for the first time since a second-place finish in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita last fall.

Baffert plans to bring back Hoppertunity in the $100,000 Grade III Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar on July 24, and he figures today’s race is a good starting point for the rest of the year.

“He’s a mile and a quarter horse, but even if he doesn’t win, the Gold Cup should set him up for (whatever is next),” he said.

One of the more interesting possibilities in the Gold Cup is the Richard Mandella-trained Bal a Bali, who has won four Grade I races in Brazil. But all four victories were on the turf, and Saturday’s race is on the dirt. The 6-year-old son of Put It Back has never raced on dirt in 21 races.

“We’ve always wanted to try him on dirt and it’s time to do it,” Mandella said.

Bal a Bali, who will be ridden by Mandella’s go-to guy, Flavien Prat, is the fourth moing-line choice at 5-1.

Second Summer, one of three horses listed at 6-1 on the moing line, comes in off a one-length victory in the Grade II Califoian Stakes at Santa Anita on May 22, a major steppingstone to the Gold Cup. He defeated a pair of horses — Hard Aces and Lieutenant Colonel — that are also ruing today.

The 4-year-old gelded son of Summer Bird brings a three-race wiing streak into the Gold Cup, although trainer Peter Eurton realizes his horse is taking a step up in class.

Advertisement

“With Hoppertunity now in, it’s tued out to be a very formidable race,” he said.

Two horses will be trying to snap significant losing streaks Saturday.

Imperative, the third choice at 9-2, has lost his past 16 starts dating back to a victory in the 2014 Charles Town Classic at 26-1. A hard-knocking sort that usually picks up a check, he’s the only other millionaire in the race other than Hoppertunity. He’ll be ridden by Rafael Bejarano for trainer Richard Baltas.

Hard Aces, who won last year’s Gold Cup by a nose over Hoppertunity, is winless in his past eight races since that afteoon last June. Trained by John Sadler, he’ll be ridden by Santiago Gonzalez.

• Today’s co-feature, the $300,000 Grade I Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs, drew an attractive eight-horse field headed by Kobe’s Back and Lord Nelson.

Kobe’s Back has won three of six starts at Santa Anita — all Grade II victories — and finished second twice. He comes in off a third-place showing in the Churchill Downs Stakes on Kentucky Derby Day and will be ridden again by Gary Stevens.

Lord Nelson was superb in his first race back in more than five months on June 3, wiing an allowance event by 3 1/2 lengths while stamping himself as one of the top sprinters on the grounds.

“He came out of the race well and when you have an opportunity to run in a Grade I when the horse is doing well, you’ve got to go for it,” Baffert said.

First post today for a nine-race program is 1:30 p.m.

AT A GLANCE

$500,000 Grade I Gold Cup at Santa Anita Park

Distance: 1 1/4 miles on main track

Favorites: Hoppertunity, 3-1; Melatonin, 7-2; Imperative, 9-2

Post time: Approximately 5:30 p.m.

TV: NBCSN