Hoppertunity Returns in Comma to the Top

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Hoppertunity Returns in Comma to the Top
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Photo: Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club
Hoppertunity is set to make his first start since returning from Dubai

Last seen finishing sixth, 10 3/4 lengths behind stablemate Arrogate in the March 25 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), multiple grade 1 winner Hoppertunity is set to return to racing Oct. 28 in the Comma to the Top Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Before going to Dubai, the Bob Baffert-trained 6-year-old son of Any Given Saturday registered a one-length win over Mor Spirit in San Antonio Stakes (G2) in February. In 2016, the bay runner notched graded stakes wins on both coasts, winning that yea'rs San Antonio and grabbing a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). He was also third in the Dubai World Cup for owners Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, and Paul Weitman.

Lining up to take him on is multiple stakes winner Avanti Bello, who enters off a 1 1/4-length victory in a one-mile allowance race at Los Alamitos Race Course in September. The 5-year-old Doug O'Neill-trained son of Include  has one other win this year, the Tiznow Stakes in February. He finished sixth in the Bertrando Stakes in July at Los Alamitos. 

The other stakes winner in the field is Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber's 5-year-old El Huerfano, whose lone stakes victory was in 2015. This year the Peter Miller trainee finished off the board in the Alysheba Stakes Presented by Big Fish Casino (G2) at Churchill Downs, but returned to the West Coast in June to pick up an allowance win at Santa Anita. The Tannersmyman gelding finished last after he stumbled at the start and caused jockey Evin Roman to lose his irons in the TVG San Diego Handicap (G2). He finished third last time out in the E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos, two lengths behind Soi Phet.

Baffert will also saddle Donegal Racing's Irish Freedom in the Comma to the Top. The 3-year-old Pioneerof the Nile  colt was a dominating 5 1/4-length winner in a 1 1/16-mile allowance Aug. 13 at Del Mar. 

Stakes-placed Curlin Rules and allowance winners The Lieutenant and Top of the Game round out the field. 


Entries: Comma to the Top S.

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 28, 2017, Race 5

  • STK
  • 1m
  • Dirt
  • $70,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 2:18 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1The Lieutenant (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Victor Espinoza 122 Michael W. McCarthy 20/1
2 2Top of the Game (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux 122 Vladimir Cerin 6/1
3 3Irish Freedom (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Rafael Bejarano 118 Bob Baffert 5/2
4 4Hoppertunity (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Flavien Prat 126 Bob Baffert 9/5
5 5El Huerfano (CA) Corey S. Nakatani 122 Peter Miller 5/1
6 6Curlin Rules (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Drayden Van Dyke 122 John W. Sadler 4/1
7 7Avanti Bello (CA) Evin A. Roman 126 Doug F. O'Neill 8/1