Hopper Picks Up Second Win, Taking Affirmed Stakes
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Hopper and jockey Abel Cedillo win the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park
With the legendary Laffit Pincay Jr. on hand to present the trophy for the race named in honor of racing's 1978 Triple Crown champion, trainer Sean McCarthy was set to pass the proverbial baton back to Bob Baffert following the June 11 $100,000 Affirmed Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, as his one-two finishers, Hopper and High Connection , will be returning to the currently suspended Baffert early next month. As for Saturday's results, Hopper, in only his third career start, made short work of three rivals, two of them originally conditioned by Baffert, as he showed the way throughout en route to an emphatic 5 1/4-length score under Abel Cedillo, covering a mile and one-sixteenth in 1:43.83.
Fractions on the race were :23.37, :46.74, 1:10.99, and 1:37.28.
Quick from the blocks, Hopper was in total command from his rail post with Doppelganger in close attendance in the run up the backside, but with Drayden Van Dyke asking him, Doppelganger could never get on terms around the far turn and Hopper strode clear through the lane with High Connection just up for the place.
"I saw Juan (Hernandez) asking the other horse (High Connection) at about the three and a half to get into contention and Doppelganger was moving at the same time, but Hopper was just cruising on the front end, so I had a pretty good feeling," said McCarthy.
"With either one of these two, Hopper and High Connection, it'll be a Del Mar plan I would imagine. What it is, I don't know, but I would assume that's where they're going to be heading and you know, by that time, I'm out of the picture."
Ridden for the first time today by Cedillo, Hopper was the third choice in the wagering among four sophomores and paid $8.60 and $4.00 with no show wagering.
A modest $90,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Hopper, who is by Declaration of War and is out of the Caesour mare Irridescence, is owned by Lanni Bloodstock, SF Racing, and Madaket Stables. With today's winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $100,700.
Off at even money, High Connection finished a half-length in front of Doppelganger and paid $3.00 to show.
Trained by Tim Yakteen, Doppelganger finished a distance in front of Pioneering Papa as the second choice at 7-5.
Hopper's Affirmed win marked Cedillo's first stakes score of the meet and his third win on the day, giving him 43 total.