Happy My Way Dies

Happy My Way (Wilko–Holy Queen, by Holy Bull), winner of the 2014 GIII Maryland Sprint H. on the GI Preakness S. undercard, has passed away following a fifth-place effort in last Saturday’s West Virginia Legislature Chairman’s Cup at Mountaineer Park.

Runner-up in the 2014 Sunshine Millions Sprint, Happy My Way won the Sir Shackelton S. in his next start after which a 50% interest in the gelding was acquired by Kevin Plank’s Sagamore Farm from Mel Paikoff. The Florida-bred sprinted home a 5 3/4-length winner of the Maryland Sprint H. in his first start for the new partnership, stamping himself as one of the nation’s leading sprinters before finishing second as the favorite in last year’s GI A. G. Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga.

“It is with a heavy-heart that we share the news of the passing of our five-year-old gelding, Happy My Way,” said Hunter Rankin, President of Sagamore Racing in a release. “Following his run in the West Virginia Legislature Chairman’s Cup on Saturday, we found that he slab-fractured his knee and was immediately sent to surgery. However, the severity of the injury was greater than expected and it could not be repaired. He was truly a joy to be around; to have a Thoroughbred of his class, energy and limitless potential in your barn doesn’t happen every day. It’s like losing a member of your team, and at Sagamore, our team is our family.”

Named the 2014 Florida-bred champion male sprinter and champion older male, Happy My Way amassed a record of 23-6-5-5 and earnings of $559,052.