Hoppertunity Leads the Way in $200,000 San Pasqual

Hoppertunity, the 9/5 favorite for trainer Bob Baffert, has generated a considerable amount of buzz since returning from nearly a six month layoff.  The four year-old son of Any Given Saturday scratched from the 2014 Kentucky Derby, and did not start again until a second place finish October 29 at Santa Anita against allowance foes.  Hoppertunity followed that effort with a Grade 1 victory in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs November 28.  Breaking from post two, jockey Martin Garcia should have Hoppertunity forwardly-placed.

Majestic Harbor looks to regain form 

Majestic Harbor (9/2) has had major success on the Santa Anita dirt winning the Grade 1 Gold Cup in June.  Since that effort, however, the Sean McCarthy trainee is winless in three starts including a thirteenth place drubbing in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.  The mile and one sixteenth distance of the San Pasqual may be a bit shorter than Majestic Harbor’s ideal trip, but the seven year-old has proven capable on his best day. 

Up-and-comer for Motion 

Quadrivium (6/1) came on strong to close out his three year-old campaign, tallying sharp allowance scores at Keeneland and Laurel Park for trainer Graham Motion.  The rapidly improving son of Henrythenavigator has three wins in eight starts and will be trying stakes competition for the first time.  Mike Smith gets the call breaking from the rail post.