Runhappy Zips Six Furlongs at Keeneland

James McIngvale's grade I winner Runhappy continued to show his affinity for the main track at Keeneland Race Course the morning of Oct. 21, zipping six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).



With a large group of onlookers observing, the 3-year-old son of Super Saver   was timed in fractional splits of :11 4/5, :23 2/5, :34 3/5, :46 2/5, and :58. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:23.



The work was the second for Runhappy, bought for $200,000 from the Ashview Farm consignment at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, since his victory in Keeneland's Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III). Previously, he won the NYRA.com King's Bishop (gr. I).



"He was really explosive at the beginning," said trainer Maria Borell, who is based crosstown at the Training Center. "I was like 'Oh boy.' I had guessed he was going to do around 1:10. That's just how this horse is. He wants to go.



"We couldn't be asking him to train any better than he is. He is training better for this race than he did for the King's Bishop or the Phoenix. He's really coming into himself. He wants to run. He wants to be in front of everybody."



Runhappy, bred in Kentucky by Wayne Lyster, Gray Lyster, and Bryan Lyster, has won five of six starts with earnings of $481,300.