Speedster Runhappy Breezes from Gate

Breeders' Cup TwinSpires Sprint (gr. I) contender Runhappy laid it down with a sharp breeze from the gate at Keeneland Oct. 14, a morning when the Lexington main track played fast for multiple Breeders' Cup World Championships contenders.

The 3-year-old Super Saver   colt owned by James McIngvale was caught by Keeneland clockers in splits of :12 1/5, :23 1/5, :34 3/5, and :45 2/5, with a five-furlong time in :57 4/5, and a 1:10 3/5 gallop-out under Marcus O'Donnell.

"Beautiful," O'Donnell told trainer Maria Borell. "He left there like a shot."

Runhappy, who won the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) and the NYRA.com King's Bishop (gr. I) as part of a current four-race win streak that includes earlier allowance victories at Ellis Park and Indiana Grand, is based at the Thoroughbred Center and shipped in for the breeze. 

"We're just trying to sharpen him up out of the gate a little bit," the trainer explained. "He definitely did break a little slow in the Phoenix. Whether that has to do with him still being a little green or him being leery of the surface, I don't know, but we're trying to sharpen him up a little bit, especially if we draw the dreadful rail again. He broke a lot better today. 

"He did it so easy, what can you say? I thought he went brilliantly. The thing with this horse is, he moves so easy. His stride lengthens...he's hard to tell how fast he's going and you've got to get used to him, because he lengthens his stride so long."

Runhappy will return to Keeneland next week for his final pre-race move, Borell said.

"He likes his turnout and I like to bring him in the pool," she said of stabling at the Thoroughbred Center. "He loves being turned out, and he's so smart out there. Let's let him be a horse."

Another sprinter on the tab was LNJ Foxwoods' Super Majesty, also a 3-year-old by Super Saver, who is gearing up for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I). The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained filly went five furlongs in :59 flat while traveling in the three path, galloping out in 1:10 3/5.

Working for the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) was Richard Ravin and Patricia's Hope's Cocked and Loaded, who went five furlongs in :58 flat in company with Lewys Vaporizer for trainer Larry Rivelli, out in 1:11 3/5 with jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. in the irons.

Also on the worktab at Keeneland Wednesday morning was Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) contender Catch a Glimpse, who went solo in 1:03 1/5 for trainer Mark Casse, as well as fellow Casse trainee Conquest Daddyo, who continued preparations for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) under jockey Joe Bravo with a 1:01 1/5 move in company with maiden Sky Fire, galloping out in 1:16 1/5.