O'Neill Looks to Happy Jack for Third Derby Victory

In a relatively wide-open, Bob Baffert-less Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), just two of the participating trainers have already won multiple Runs for the Roses: Todd Pletcher, who most people assume has won more than two Derbys; and Doug O'Neill, who many seem to have forgotten has won any at all.

O'Neill, who doesn't tend to get receive much credit outside his native California, will be attempting to gain his third Derby trophy, with longshot Happy Jack , a homebred for Calumet Farm. Although it made its bones in another era, Calumet leads all other owners with eight Kentucky Derby victories, double the total of second-place Col. E. R. Bradley.

So, there is pedigree to be acknowledged with Happy Jack's human connections. There is also no denying that the bay colt needs to find a way to make up the 12 1/4 lengths by which Taiba  outran him in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) in early April. How much improvement can be hoped for in the five weeks between races, and how much can his trainer's experience help him toward a possible upset?

"The beauty of training in Southern California is the weather, so he hasn't missed a beat," O'Neill said of his Derby charge. "He arrived in Kentucky fit and ready. He definitely needs to step it up, but we have seen things in the morning from him that make you go, 'Whoa.' He's got it in him. We need to bring it out of him."

Partially because of his success in the classics with I'll Have Another, winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) in 2012, and again with 2-year-old champion and 2016 Derby winner Nyquist  , O'Neill received a few horses from Brad Kelley's Calumet when the trainer pulled into Oaklawn Park with a string several years ago. O'Neill assistant Jack Sisterson oversaw that Oaklawn group, and also caught the eye of Calumet, which offered him a job training exclusively for the legendary farm. O'Neill graciously gave his blessing to the arrangement, which was appreciated by both Sisterson and Calumet.

Calumet has sent a couple of horses O'Neill's way every year since, and Sisterson scored a major victory for Kelley's operation when he trained Lexitonian   to win the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga Race Course last summer. Meanwhile, O'Neill once again entered the national spotlight by conditioning Hot Rod Charlie  to a runner-up effort in the 2020 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), and again throughout 2021, when the popular colt took the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), and was second in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and third in the Kentucky Derby. He has banked more than $5 million to date.

Hot Rod Charlie is the most successful runner by Calumet stallion Oxbow, whose 2013 Preakness victory marked a long-awaited return to classic glory for the farm. Happy Jack is also a son of Oxbow  , a definite factor when Calumet was divvying up their horses to various trainers.

"Doug's success with Hot Rod Charlie definitely played a part in sending this horse to him," noted Calumet manager Eddie Kane. "He's a very good trainer."

Added O'Neill, "When Eddie called and said Mr. Kelley wanted to send us an Oxbow colt, we were excited. Between Calumet and the pedigree, Happy Jack checked a lot of boxes before we even saw him. And he didn't disappoint us in his debut."

O'Neill unveiled Happy Jack, who is out of the Tapit   mare Tapitstry , on Jan. 22 at Santa Anita Park, when he bested a field of seven foes by 1 1/4 lengths going six furlongs. With no allowance races to gradually step up into, O'Neill had no choice but to throw the colt into the deep end in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), where he was soundly defeated by Messier . Happy Jack came back to run third to the since-sidelined Forbidden Kingdom  in the March 5 San Felipe Stakes (G2), earning himself the first of his two graded placings. He has earned $182,200 to date.

O'Neill's job is now to find the keys that help Happy Jack take the next step upward.

"We've been tinkering with blinkers on and off, and we'll be taking them off for the Kentucky Derby," he said. "Also, Rafael Bejarano will ride him in the Derby. 

"Here's the thing: horses can turn for the better overnight, and we hope that's coming. We put a two-minute lick into him at Santa Anita before we put him on the plane, and he flew around there. He's working a mile at Keeneland a week before the race. What I've learned is you can't nurse a horse coming into the Derby. You need an athlete who is going to show up every day, and who allows you to push on him."

Happy Jack is scheduled to work April 30 at Keeneland. 

O'Neill always deflects praise to his staff or his owners when he's asked if he receives enough credit for having already won two Derbys. 

"It's having the luxury of training for Paul and Zillah Reddam, two of the greatest people and horse owners," he said of I'll Have Another and Nyquist's owners. "They let you surround the horses with the best people possible, which helps make it happen. Twice. The experience means a lot. To even get Happy Jack to the Derby, we've made some zigs and zags that I wouldn't have done if not for I'll Have Another and Nyquist. You gain confidence in your strategizing and decision-making when you've been lucky enough to win a couple."

Now, he just needs that confidence to rub off on Happy Jack.