Happy Saver Steps Up in Federico Tesio

Wertheimer and Frere's undefeated Happy Saver, a late-developing son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver , will take the next step in his progression when he faces stakes company for the first time in the $100,000 Federico Tesio Stakes Sept. 7 at Laurel Park.

The 39th running of the 1 1/8-mile Tesio for 3-year-olds serves as the highlight of five $100,000 stakes on a special 10-race Labor Day holiday program that caps Laurel's Preakness Prep Weekend. For the fifth straight year, the Tesio serves as a "Win and In" event for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course.

"We were very pleased with his debut and impressed that he was able to stretch out in his second start to a mile and an eighth and win against older horses," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "We're very pleased with the progress he's made. We felt like the Tesio could potentially be a good segue toward the Preakness if he continues to develop."

Unraced at 2, Happy Saver debuted in a seven-furlong maiden special weight June 20 at Belmont Park, pressing a quick pace before taking over entering the stretch and sprinting clear to win by 5 1/2 lengths. He came back July 26 at Saratoga Race Course, settling in midpack until making a six-wide move in upper stretch and going on to a four-length triumph at the Tesio distance.

"He seems to be very talented," Pletcher said. "He had enough natural speed to win going seven-eighths and then was able to kind of sit off the pace in his second start and finish up strongly at a mile and an eighth. He's already shown some versatility and professionalism in only a couple of starts."

Maryland's four-time leading rider Trevor McCarthy has the assignment on Happy Saver from post 4 of seven.

Cash is King and LC Racing's Monday Morning Qb is entered to launch his comeback in the Tesio. Winner of the seven-furlong Heft Stakes in December in his only Laurel start, the Imagining colt has not raced since finishing fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trainer Robert "Butch" Reid Jr. said the connections decided to give Monday Morning Qb some time after the Withers, a break that was extended due to the months-long pause in live racing around the country amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"He really has filled out nicely, and his joints have set up really well, just what we were hoping because he's such a big guy," Reid said. "He couldn't be training any better."

Monday Morning Qb is one of four Triple Crown-nominated horses in the Tesio. Victor Carrasco is named to ride from post 6.

"There's still spots out there, and that's why we're kind of pushing him to get this one under his belt and then look for something down the road. And I still think that he'll turf, too, at some point, so I'd definitely like to jump over and try that eventually," Reid said. "He's definitely handled the surface down there, so that's at least part of the reason why we're coming."

Also nominated to the Triple Crown is Don Fausto Racing's Mexican Wonder Boy. The Kentucky-bred Can the Man colt won the seven-furlong Clasico Anahuac (G1) and 1 1/16-mile Clasico Campeonato Juvenile (G2) during a 2019 campaign that saw him named Mexico's 2-year-old champion male.

Mexican Wonder Boy made his U.S. debut July 25 at Gulfstream Park, dismissing a challenge at the quarter pole and going on to a 1 1/4-length win in a one-mile allowance optional claimer. Most recently, he was fifth in a similar spot going 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 16 at Gulfstream.

"The horse has good potential," trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. "He won the race at Gulfstream and then we were looking for a mile and a sixteenth, mile and an eighth, and we decide to run him at 6 1/2 furlongs. The horse had just a regular performance. It was a very, very hot day, and it was not his best day. We think he has more potential, and we were looking for options. I think the Federico Tesio is a good option for him."

Horacio Karamanos gets the call from post 5 at co-topweight of 124 pounds.

Big City Bob, Amen Corner, Plot the Dots, and Letmeno complete the field.

Entries: Federico Tesio S.

Laurel Park, Monday, September 07, 2020, Race 7

• STK
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 3:40 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Amen Corner (KY)	UNKNOWN	120	Jeremiah O'Dwyer	15/1
2	2Plot the Dots (MD)	Julian Pimentel	120	Michael J. Trombetta	8/1
3	3Big City Bob (KY)	Jevian Toledo	124	Jorge Duarte, Jr.	30/1
4	4Happy Saver (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	120	Todd A. Pletcher	1/2
5	5Mexican Wonder Boy (KY)	Horacio Karamanos	124	Fausto Gutierrez	10/1
6	6Monday Morning Qb (MD)	Victor R. Carrasco	120	Robert E. Reid, Jr.	5/1
7	7Letmeno (KY)	Forest Boyce	120	Ian R. Wilkes	8/1