James McIngvale's reigning Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Runhappy (Super Saver) completed his local preparations for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 4, covering eight furlongs in 1:39 Wednesday morning at Keeneland. Breezing just after the renovation break and partnered in his work by exercise rider Marcus O'Donnell, the 4-year-old broke off at the three-eighths pole and carved out fractions of :13.20, :24.60, :36.60, :48, 1:00, 1:12.40 and 1:25.20.
It was Runhappy's second move since weakening to fourth in the GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 1. The bay was clocked in 1:38 4/5 Oct. 12, but did not overwhelm observers, including trainer Laura Wohlers, but she pronounced herself satisfied Wednesday morning.
“The main thing this morning is I wanted to see him pick it up at the second turn,” trainer Laura Wohlers said. “This time he did, and we want him to realize it is not a one-turn thing.”
Though he hasn't managed to land a blow in two tries beyond seven furlongs, Runhappy is up to the task, Wohlers believes.
“I think he will go the distance,” Wohlers said of the Dirt Mile, which will be the colt's first two-turn race since finishing well down the field with some trouble in the GIII Lecomte S. in January 2015. “He has had two good mile works and we don't need to do a lot more. I thought maybe the mile would be a little quicker [this morning], but the track looked deeper than last week.”
Runhappy is scheduled to ship to Santa Anita this Sunday and is penciled in for a single breeze in California the week of the Dirt Mile.
“We will probably work five or six days out and maybe just a half-mile,” Wohlers said. “He will go to the paddock and gate even though he has been there before. We are big on schooling.”
In his lone previous appearance in the Golden State, Runhappy carried Gary Stevens to a 3 1/2-length victory in the GI Malibu S. last December. Stevens will be in the boot for the Dirt Mile.
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