Hoppertunity, 7, can mark a first

DEL MAR, Calif. – Since early 2014, Hoppertunity has been a fixture in trainer Bob Baffert’s stable.

Now 7, Hoppertunity has won eight stakes and earned $4,692,625. In 2016, he finished third to California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup and later that year won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

“He’s like the team captain of the barn,” Baffert said last weekend.

Hoppertunity is having another fine year, with two graded stakes wins in four starts. Those credentials make Hoppertunity the 125-pound highweight in Wednesday’s Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar.

The $100,000 Cougar II Handicap will be Hoppertunity’s 34th start and a chance to achieve another milestone – a first win at Del Mar. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Hoppertunity has been fourth in all three of his starts here – the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in 2015 and Grade 1 Pacific Classic in 2015 and 2016.

Hoppertunity is the only 2018 stakes winner among the eight runners in the Cougar II Handicap.

KEY CONTENDERS

Hoppertunity, by Any Given Saturday Last 3 Beyers: 97-98-93

◗ Hoppertunity, who was fourth in the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Belmont Park on July 7, is unbeaten in two starts at 1 1/2 miles this year – the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at odds of 1-5 at Santa Anita on April 8 and the Grade 2 Brooklyn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9.

◗ Hoppertunity was beaten 9 3/4 lengths by Diversify in the Suburban on a day when conditions were against him, Baffert said. Hoppertunity was last of 10 for the first mile.

“He was so far back,” Baffert said. “The track was fast the other day.”

◗ Flavien Prat, who has been Hoppertunity’s rider since 2017, has the mount on Wednesday.

Unapologetic, by Temple City Last 3 Beyers: 93-87-78

◗ A 5-year-old, Unapologetic won consecutive optional claimers on turf at Santa Anita in June at 1 1/2 miles and 1 1/4 miles. The Cougar II Handicap is the graded stakes debut for Unapologetic, and his 24th start.

“It’s the distance we’re going for,” trainer Bill Spawr said. “I wish it was two miles.”

Full of Luck, by Lookin At Lucky Last 3 Beyers: 89-96-81

◗ Full of Luck was a multiple group stakes winner in Chile in 2016 and 2017, but was winless in three starts, all in graded stakes, at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita in the spring.

◗ A new distance and the addition of blinkers may help Full of Luck’s chances, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

“It’s a mile and a half,” Hollendorfer said. “We’ll put blinkers on him and see. We want to give him one more chance on dirt. We think he will work out.”