Grade I Winner Hoppertunity Tops San Pasqual

Grade I winner Hoppertunity returns to Santa Anita Park Jan.10 as the 4-year-old tops the field of 11 older horses in the grade II, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

After winning the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park last year, the Any Given Saturday colt ran second to eventual dual classic winner California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Hoppertunity was highly regarded for last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), but was sent to the sidelines and declared out of the Derby May 1 due to quarter cracks and for ankle surgery. He returned Oct. 29 to run second in an allowance race at Santa Anita for owners Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman.

Finally given a chance to run at Churchill Downs, Hoppertunity won the Clark Handicap (gr. I) in November. The colt sports a 3-2-0 record in seven starts with $950,675 in earnings.

A grade I winner seeking to regain his form in the San Pasqual is Majestic Harbor, who finished 13th in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Nov. 1. Trained by Sean McCarthy for Gallant Stable, the 7-year-old by Rockport Harbor scored his biggest win in the Gold Cup (gr. I) at Santa Anita last June 28.

Majestic Harbor is 26-6-6-4 overall with earnings of $674,014.

Trainer Peter Miller sends out Big Cazanova, winner of the Native Diver Stakes (gr. III) at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar Nov. 29. Previously, the Argentine-bred ridgling by Giant's Causeway   was placed seventh through disqualification of Moreno in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park, and then finished fifth in the grade II Las Vegas Marathon Stakes Oct. 31.

Owned by Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Brous Stable, and Dona Licha, the 6-year-old chestnut is 20-4-6-6 overall with earnings of $393,692.

Stretching out in the San Pasqual is Bronzo, who finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 31. The Chilean-bred 6-year-old gelding by Fusaichi Pegasus   owned by Don Alberto Stable has been training consistently at Santa Anita and gets a new rider in Hall of Famer Gary Stevens. Previously trained by Jorge Inda, Bronzo is now under the care of Neil Drysdale.