Runhappy Works a Mile at Keeneland

Runhappy returned to the track for the first time since a fourth-place finish in the Oct. 1 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) the morning of Oct. 12 at Keeneland, working a mile in 1:38 4/5. Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens was flown in from California for the drill.

Owner James McIngvale also flew in from Houston to oversee the work.

“He’s dead fit, boss,” Stevens told McIngvale back at the barn after the move. “He’s where he needs to be. I had trouble pulling him up. … He actually worked about a mile and an eighth.”

Runhappy stood on the track for awhile with a lead pony and then Stevens jogged him around the track clockwise once before turning to get into his work. The track reported Runhappy went a half-mile in :46 2/5.

“His speed is there,” Stevens said. “There’s no doubt about his stamina, either. I have a clock in my head and I thought he started in :11 4/5 and then went another eighth in :11 3/5. After a half-mile I let him fill back up with air and he took off again. I thought he went the mile in 1:37 or 1:37 2/5. He finished strongly.”

Stevens has not been aboard Runhappy since they teamed to win the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) last Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.

“He’s an adult now,” he said. “His cardio is just so good. When he got back to the barn, his ribcage wasn’t even moving.”

The plan with last year’s male sprint champion remains a run at the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) according to trainer Laura Wohlers. Following time off for a bone bruise this spring and summer, the 4-year-old returned to training with five recorded works prior to his first start. The first three came at Keeneland, followed by a gate work at Churchill and a half-mile move back at Keeneland Sept. 25. In Churchill Downs’ Ack Ack he went to the lead through a half-mile in :45.95 under Edgar Prado before tiring late to finish 2 1/2 lengths behind Tom’s Ready.

Wohlers said the son of Super Saver   bounced back fine after the race and hopes he’s set up for a run at the Breeders’ Cup.

Last year Runhappy tore through four graded stakes on his way to the championship: the seven-furlong NYRA.com King’s Bishops Stakes (gr. I), the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III), and TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Keeneland, and the Malibu.