Hoppertunity sires first foal

The first foal by Hoppertunity, a filly out of a stakes-winning Rhythm mare. Photo courtesy of Northview Stallion Station.

Hoppertunity, the richest stallion ever to enter stud in the Mid-Atlantic region, has his first foal on the ground. The bay filly was born Jan. 14 at Peter Alafoginis’s farm in Lawrenceville in north central Pennsylvania. Bred by Rick Molineaux, she is out of stakes-winning Rhythm in Shoes (by Rhythm), and is a half-sister to seven winners.

In his first season at stud at Northview PA in Peach Bottom in 2019, Hoppertunity led all stallions in the region when covering 129 mares. The bay had retired sound after racing five years at the highest level, making 34 starts and earning $4,712,625. He recorded 22 top-three finishes, nine in Grade 1 company.

A winner of eight stakes, all graded, Hoppertunity captured the historic Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1 at Belmont Park at 5, and Clark Handicap-G1 at Churchill Downs as a 3-year-old facing older horses. A graded stakes winner each year he ran, he also won the Rebel Stakes-G2 at 3, the San Pasqual Stakes-G2 at 4, San Antonio Stakes-G2 twice (at 5 and 6), and Brooklyn Invitational Stakes-G2 and Tokyo City Cup Stakes-G3 in his final season at 7. He recorded 15 triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, and only twice in his career was he worse than fourth.

Hoppertunity is a son of Grade 1 winner Any Given Saturday out of the graded stakes-placed mare Refugee (by Unaccounted For), also the dam Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes winner Executiveprivilege, an earner of $999,000 from 10 starts, as well as 2019 stakes winners Cowboy’s Hero and Leader of Men. His third dam is champion and Hall of Famer Davona Dale.

Hoppertunity stands his second season for $5,000 live foal, payable when the foal stands and nurses.

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