So Happy scored a joyous win for longshot players in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4.
At one time a $12,000 weanling purchase and $20,000 yearling, SO HAPPY collected 100 points and is now headed to the Kentucky Derby for Saints or Sinners of Hans and Ana Maron and Robert Norman’s Norman Stables. Trained by Mark Glatt, So Happy, by Runhappy, and jockey Mike Smith pulled off a 7-to-1 upset in the 1 1/8 mile race. Potente, winner of the San Felipe Stakes, finished second for trainer Bob Baffert.
For 53-year-old Glatt, it was an especially emotional win. The victory came less than two months since his wife of 25 years, Dena, died of heart failure.
“It’s pretty hard to describe,” Glatt said from the winner’s circle. “We have had an overwhelming amount of support that’s helped us get through this very tough time. (Dena) got that horse there today. I’m just so thankful to the owners for giving me an opportunity. They are big contributors to my stable. They are not really owners, they have become lifelong friends. I just really appreciate their friendship. Since Dena’s passing, they have called me every night. They have flown out here. They have just been tremendous, along with a lot of other people. But they truly are friends and I couldn’t ask for it to happen to better people.”
Potente, trained by Bob Baffert, finished 6 ¾ lengths clear of 47-1 longshot Vitruvian Man in third. Intrepido (7-2) was fourth followed by Start the Ride (65-1). Cherokee Nation, the 3-1 second choice, bobbled at the start and was never a factor.
The top five finishers all earned qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10) for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2. So Happy would be Glatt’s first starter in the Kentucky Derby. Smith is a two-time winner of the 1 ¼-mile classic. As for Potente, Baffert said he would move on to the Kentucky Derby.
“He ran a good race,” Baffert said. “He’s getting fitter and getting more experience. He’ll be going to Kentucky. I’m really happy for Mark and Mike.”
Potente, winner of last month’s GII San Felipe, went to the lead and posted an opening quarter mile of 23.03 seconds while being pressed by Robusta (8-1) and jockey Emisael Jaramillo. So Happy also broke alertly and took up a stalking position while racing three wide. Down the backstretch, Robusta put a head in front of Potente through a half-mile split in 46.79 seconds. The pair continued to race side-by-side into the second turn with So Happy continuing to track.
Nearing the quarter pole, after six furlongs in 1:11.11, So Happy took aim at the two leaders. With Robusta beginning to weaken, So Happy ranged up to Potente near the eighth and edged away late to earn his second stakes win and third victory overall in four starts.
So Happy previously finished third behind Potente in the San Felipe when making his two-turn debut on March 7.
PEDIGREE NOTES
Champion sprinter RUNHAPPY was a brilliant racehorse for James McIngvale, but he did not get off to a fast start as a stallion. The son of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver was promoted strongly by his owner, but ultimately sent to South Korea last fall. Runhappy has 20 stakes winners from five crops.
So Happy is from the Blame mare So Cunning who won two races from three starts. So Cunning is from So Glitzy, a stakes-placed winner of $179,000 and half-sister to Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Silver Wagon and multiple stakes winner Rehoboth.
So Cunning’s first foal is three-time winner Tres Francais and her second foal is unplaced Jeannie’s Faith.
Breeder Leverett Miller, 94, sold a Demarchelier (GB) weanling for $1,500 from So Cunning two years ago to Richard Forbush. So Cunning is a fourth generation Miller mare.
-with files from Santa Anita media
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