Talented 3-year-old colt Runhappy, one of three Grade 1 winners from the first crop of Super Saver, defeated a top field that included reigning Eclipse-winning sprinter Work All Week in the $250,000 Phoenix S. (G3) on opening day at Keeneland [WATCH VIDEO].
Despite breaking slow from the rail, Runhappy and jockey Edgar Prado were able to use some of the colt’s brilliant speed to quickly make up ground and forge to the head of the 12-horse field midway down the backstretch through a crisp opening quarter in 21.52 over the local sloppy track.
From there, Runhappy displayed his class in his first graded start against his elders, using his efficient stride to maintain an uncatchable cruising speed into the stretch. Prado had to manage some tense moment coming off the turn, as Runhappy’s rain-soaked saddle slipped down the colt’s back, causing him to veer out. But Prado was able to regain control while his mount did the rest, crossing the wire a decisive winner in 1:09.96 for the six furlongs.
Trained by Maria Borell, the victory earned Runhappy and his connections an expense-paid berth into the $1,500,000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) later this month on Oct. 31 at Keeneland, where the handsome bay colt figures to be one of the favorites.
“He’s very talented. He’s an amazing horse. I’m so lucky and blessed to have him,” said Borell in a damp-but-elated winner’s circle.
On Friday, he went off as the 7-5 favorite after coming in the impressive winner of the King’s Bishop S. (G1) at Saratoga in his last start. In that race, he blitzed his fellow 3-year-olds by a romping four lengths in 1:20.54 for seven furlongs, setting a new stakes record and earning a whopping 113 Beyer – the single fastest Beyer earned by any horse up to one mile in 2015. It’s also notable that his King’s Bishop performance was faster than both the Ballerina S. (G1) and Forego S. (G1) contested by older horses at the seven-furlong distance on the same day.
Runhappy has done all of this without racing with Lasix or any race-day medications, and he now struts into the global spotlight on Oct. 31st with a record of five wins from six starts. He now holds earnings of $481,300 for owner James McIngvale, who purchased the colt for $200,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. Runhappy is currently based at Keeneland where he’ll train up to the Breeders’ Cup.
By Super Saver, Runhappy was bred in Kentucky by Wayne, Gray, & Bryan Lyster, and he hails from the Broken Vow mare Bella Jolie.
