Plenty of Starpower, Speed in Phoenix

An extremely intriguing match-up is set for Friday’s GIII Phoenix S. at Keeneland, where super-talented sophomore Runhappy (Super Saver) takes on defending champion sprinter Work All Week (City Zip) in an automatic qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

James “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s Runhappy is perfect in three outings since being transferred from Laura Wohlers to Maria Borell. He easily bested three next-out winners in an Indiana optional claimer July 7, and handled more older foes at Ellis Park 24 days after that. Dismissed at 11-1 for Saratoga’s GI King’s Bishop S. Aug. 29, the bay went to the lead and never looked back, power-housing home by four lengths to earn a gaudy 113 Beyer Speed Figure–the fastest figure earned this year by a 3-year-old or by any horse at a mile or shorter this year.

‘TDN Rising Star’ Holy Boss (Street Boss), who capped a four-race win streak in the GII Amsterdam S. at the Spa Aug. 1, could only manage third as the favorite in the King’s Bishop.

Midwest Thoroughbreds’ Work All Week, meanwhile, used a win in this race last year as a springboard to a 19-1 upset in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. Second at short odds behind Alsvid (Officer) and ahead of Nates Mineshaft (Mineshaft) and Gentlemen’s Bet (Half Ours) on seasonal debut in Churchill’s GIII Aristides S. May 30, he again settled for runner-up in Gulfstream’s GII Smile Sprint S. July 5. The Roger Brueggemann trainee bounced back in a big way last time, however, taking Mountaineer’s Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial S. by eight lengths while pairing his Beyer top of 105. Bump Start (Jump Start) and Nates Mineshaft were third and eighth, respectively.