Comebacking Hopper Looks to Fire Fresh in San Pasqual

Idle since June 11, Hopper  bids to fire fresh and win his consecutive graded stakes race in the 1 1/8-mile San Pasqual Stakes (G2) Jan. 28 at Santa Anita Park against eight other foes.

A  5 1/4-length winner of the four-horse Affirmed Stakes (G3) last June for then-trainer Sean McCarthy, Hopper returns off a series of fast workouts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. In the spring McCarthy subbed for Baffert as trainer while Baffert served a 90-day suspension issued by Kentucky stewards for medication violations.

Owned by Lanni Bloodstock, SF Racing, and Madaket Stables, Hopper earlier scored a maiden victory in May. He is 2-for-3, with his lone defeat being a sixth in his six-furlong maiden turf debut three starts ago last winter. By the War Front   stallion Declaration of War , Hopper is out of the Caesour  mare Irridescence .

Edwin Maldonado rides the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday's $200,000 race.

Baffert also starts Messier , who seeks to regain his top form after struggling in recent starts. He bled in a race two starts ago in a Nov. 5 allowance optional claimer at Keeneland, according to the Equibase chart.

A dual grade 3 winner for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm, Messier was second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and 15th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) for then-trainer Tim Yakteen.

Veteran Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who paired with Baffert to win the 1998 Kentucky Derby aboard Real Quiet, picks up the ride.

"While the big guys are gone it's good to give the little guy a chance," joked Desormeaux, referencing that some California-based riders are at Gulfstream Park Saturday for Pegasus World Cup Day. "I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity I get."

Messier is the 6-1 fourth choice on Jon White's morning line.

Most recently third going a 1 1/8-mile in the Native Diver Stakes (G3) Nov. 27 at Del Mar, the Phil D'Amato-trained Newgrange  took a one-mile allowance optional claimer gate to wire at Santa Anita Nov. 6.

A 4-year-old colt by Violence   out of the Empire Maker  mare Bella Chianti , Newgrange will be ridden for the first time by leading jockey Juan Hernandez and is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line. A winner of last year's Sham Stakes (G3) and Southwest Stakes (G3) for different connections, he is currently owned by David Bernsen, Little Red Feather Racing, and Rockingham Ranch and has an overall mark of 4-0-2 in seven starts.

The leading money earner in the field is Hronis Racing's Tripoli , the 4-1 third favorite. Winner of the 2021 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, the 6-year-old is winless in seven starts since. A son of Kitten's Joy , Tripoli is 4-4-3 in 21 starts overall with earnings of $920,460. Tripoli will get the first-time services of Kazushi Kimura.

Tripoli was second to Newgrange, beaten 5 1/2 lengths, when they met in early November.

Perhaps the biggest question mark in the San Pasqual is the Peter Miller-trained Perfect Flight , a handy winner of the ungraded Zia Park Derby two starts back on Nov. 22, but a distant ninth at Santa Anita going seven panels on the opening day in the Malibu Stakes (G1).

Twice graded stakes placed routing on turf last year, Perfect Flight has good tactical speed and will be ridden for the first time by Joe Bravo. A 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo  , Perfect Flight is 3-for-7 on dirt and is owned by Gary Barber.

Entries: San Pasqual S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, January 28, 2023, Race 8

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:10 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Hopper (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	122	Bob Baffert	5/2
2	2Tripoli (KY)	Kazushi Kimura	120	John W. Sadler	4/1
3	3Parnelli (KY)	Victor Espinoza	120	John A. Shirreffs	10/1
4	4Perfect Flight (KY)	Joe Bravo	120	Peter Miller	10/1
5	5American Admiral (KY)	Ramon A. Vazquez	120	Tim Yakteen	12/1
6	6Newgrange (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	122	Philip D'Amato	3/1
7	7Go On (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	120	Doug F. O'Neill	20/1
8	8Breakfast Ride (KY)	Luis Contreras	120	John W. Sadler	8/1
9	9Messier (ON)	Kent J. Desormeaux	122	Bob Baffert	6/1