Gomo, Runhappy Roll on Rainy Opening Day at Keeneland

Gomo gallops to a dominant victory in the Darley Alcibiades over a sloppy Keeneland track to earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. (Photos by Keeneland/Coady Photography)
Trainer Doug O’Neill’s powerful hand for the 2-year-old races at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships got significantly stronger on Friday at Keeneland Race Course when Gomo rolled to a 2 3/4-length score in the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes.
The bay filly by 2010 champion 2-year-old male Uncle Mo powered away in the Keeneland stretch from nine opponents in the Alcibiades to earn a starting spot in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies via the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.
O’Neill also trains unbeaten multiple Grade 1 winner Nyquist, the probable favorite for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Ralis, the morning-line favorite for the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes on Oct. 3.
“You’re always surprised to win a race like this and I’ve got to thank my brother Dennis, who’s pretty sharp at these sales,” O'Neill said. "[She’s] an incredible filly and [she received] an incredible ride by Mario.”
Mario Gutierrez positioned Gomo just behind early pacesetter Put Da Blame On Me through a leisurely half-mile in :49.43 and had her in the clear approaching the stretch. Gomo shifted gears when Gutierrez asked her to accelerate and quickly opened a clear lead.
“We tried to save ground in the first turn and all the way to the second turn,” Gutierrez said. “Down the stretch it was time to go. We didn’t mind to go a little bit wide. She responded really well.”
Gomo was not seriously threatened in the stretch while completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.55 to win the featured race on opening day of the Keeneland fall meet.
“She’s been training good,” Gutierrez said. “She’s been showing us she wants to go two turns and she proved it today.”
Gomo picked up her first career stakes win in the Alcibiades after finishing second this summer in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes and third in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes. She improved to two wins, one second and two thirds in five starts for owner J. Paul Reddam, who also owns both Nyquist and Ralis.
Pochahontas Stakes winner Dothraki Queen closed willingly for second, a length clear of third-place finisher Ma Can Do It. Put Da Blame On Me held on for fourth.  
Runhappy Extends Win Streak to Four in Phoenix
Earlier on Friday’s opening day card in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes, Runhappy cemented his credentials as a probable favorite for the TwinSpires.com Breeders’ Cup Sprint with a performance that was both dazzling and gutsy at the same time.
The lightly raced 3-year-old by 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver did not get an ideal start. Runhappy broke a half-step slowly from the inside post and then was crowded a bit when pushed toward the rail on his inside. Jockey Edgar Prado asked Runhappy for some early speed and he streaked through on the inside while opening a clear lead through a blistering quarter-mile in :21.52.
RUNHAPPY (FAR LEFT) WINNING THE PHOENIX STAKES

“I had to get him running out of the gate [from the] inside, sloppy track, a lot of speed in the race,” Prado said. “I had to get in position and let him do his thing.”
Runhappy led into the stretch where he was challenged by 2014 champion sprinter Work All Week and Barbados. He proved up to the challenge, accelerating clear and then holding on gamely in the final strides to prevail by 1 ¾ lengths.
Trained by Maria Borell for owner Jim McIngvale, Runhappy completed six furlongs (three-quarters of a mile) in 1:09.96 to extend his winning streak to four. He entered the Phoenix off his first career stakes win in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes on Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course. Runhappy improved to five wins in six career starts and earned an automatic starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint via the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.
“He’s very talented. He’s an amazing horse,” Borell said. “I’m so lucky and blessed to have him. Thank you so much, [owner] James McIngvale and [racing manager] Laura Wohlers. I’m so blessed.”
Barbados edged Work All Week, the 2014 Sprint winner, by a nose for second.