Rebel Winner Hoppertunity Works at Churchill
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Grade II winner Hoppertunity breezed five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 April 23 at Churchill Downs as the son of Any Given Saturday prepares for a start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Working in company with stablemate Drill for trainer Bob Baffert, Hoppertunity completed the final quarter mile of the breeze in :24 after an opening furlong in :12 2/5. Working outside of grade I winner Drill, a 5-year-old son of Lawyer Ron, Hoppertunity galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 1/5.
"I was happy with the work," Baffert said while looking ahead to the May 3 Derby. "I thought it went well even though the workmate didn't put up much of a fight and lost interest."
Drill was credited with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 3/5.
Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's Hoppertunity won the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 15 at Oaklawn Park and enters the Derby off a runner-up finish to California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 5. He arrived at Churchill on Monday, April 21.
"I was happy with the way he ran (in the Santa Anita Derby) and he finished well," Baffert said. "I didn't think he was going to beat California Chrome, but he ran a good, solid race.
"He is a laid-back horse and he is not going to wow you. He is just a steady horse and he moves well over the track. We know he can run."