'Hopper' Seizes Opportunity in Gold Cup

Photo Credit: Adam Coglianese/NYRA

For the first time since 2014, the Bob Baffert trained Hoppertunity has finally, once again, found the grade one spotlight with a big win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (GI).

The last time Hoppertuity was able to find the winner’s circle in grade one company prior to the Gold Cup came in the 2014 Clark Handicap. Since that day, the son of Smart Strike has only managed minor success, placing second, third, and fourth in his subsequent tries in grade one races.

After tracking a modest early pace in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Hoppertunity made a three wide move coming into the stretch, before finally wearing down the post time favorite Effinex.

"He's had a tough campaign,” said assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, Jimmy Barnes. “He's won at Churchill, he's won at Santa Anita. He ran his race in Dubai, but he had to run against California Chrome there. He had to come from off the pace and those horses didn't back up that day.

“With all that being said, we've always had this race in the back of our minds."

Hoppertunity’s final time for the Jockey Club Gold Cup was recorded as an impressive 2:00.63, crossing the finish line a half-length the best.

With his victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Hoppertunity earned an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he will likely find himself facing familiar foe California Chrome. However, right now it is all about Hoppertunity, who finally gets another chance to bask in the limelight.

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