Bob Baffert’s California-based Hoppertunity will make his long-awaited first start at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old was set to run in the Kentucky Derby, but scratched two days prior due to a foot issue. The son of Any Given Saturday returned to racing Oct. 29 when he finished second in an allowance/optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park. He has a steady worktab and should improve in his second start off the layoff.
Hoppertunity’s versatile running style should help when he breaks from post one under jockey Martin Garcia. He’s been installed as co-second choice in the field at odds of 7-2. With the potential of runners in this field, Hoppertunity’s likely to be at least that price when the field breaks from the gate. Baffert’s not one to ship a horse that’s not ready to win, so take the opportunity to play Hoppertunity.
Constitution, another Kentucky Derby contender sidelined due to injury, will also make his second start off the layoff. The Todd Pletcher runner finished fourth, beaten 1 ½-lengths by Easter Gift (last year’s third-place finisher in the Clark) in an allowance/optional claiming race at Belmont Park Oct. 12. As the only runner in the field likely to go to the lead early, Constitution should be able to set the pace of the race.
Javier Castellano will be in town to pilot Constitution from post seven. Constitution has been made the co-second choice in the field at odds of 7-2.
The field for the Clark from the rail out, with odds, is: Hoppertunity (7-2), Prayer for Relief (6-1), Knights Nation (30-1), Departing (3-1), Easter Gift (8-1), Protonico (8-1), Constitution (7-2), Looking Cool (50-1), and Pick of the Litter (9-2).
The race is the 11th on Churchill’s 12-race Black Friday card with a scheduled post time of 5:35 p.m. EDT. The race can be seen on HRTV and TVG. Free PPs provided by Brisnet.
Photo: Keeneland Photo
