Hoppertunity earns first Grade 1 win as three-year-olds dominate Clark

Hoppertunity was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby due to injury but the Bob

Baffert-trained colt concluded his three-year-old season in stylish fashion at

Churchill Downs, recording a half-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $551,000

Clark

Handicap.

Winner of the Rebel Stakes and second in the Santa Anita Derby, Hoppertunity

was making his second appearance after a lengthy layoff, posting a fast-closing

second in a seven-furlong allowance/optional claiming event at Santa Anita

October 29. Martin Garcia regained the mount on Saturday and Hoppertunity left

the starting gate as a slight 2-1 favorite among nine rivals.

The bay colt tracked in second as pacesetter and Florida Derby winner

Constitution, who was also forced to miss the Kentucky Derby, established a

moderate pace in 24 1/5, :49 and 1:13 in his second start back from injury.

Garcia asked for his mount's best leaving the far turn and Hoppertunity

responded, wearing down Constitution by midstretch.

Protonico momentarily loomed as a threat as he came rallying from midpack in

the final furlongs, but Hoppertunity gamely repulsed the late bid to win

comfortably in the end.

Baffert was watching on his phone from a suite at the Rose Bowl watching the

UCLA/Stanford game.

"All I know is that stretch has been a killer for me, but that horse was bred

to run a mile-and-an-eighth and a mile-and-a-quarter," Baffert said.

Three-year-olds easily swept the top three spots in the 140th running of the

Clark. Protinico finished second at 7-1, 1 1/4 lengths better than 5-2

Constitution in third.