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Sensational Work for Runhappy

| 4:27 pm

Coady

James McIngvale’s GI King’s Bishop S. hero Runhappy (Super Saver) caught the attention of many members of the racing community Wednesday after a six-furlong breeze in 1:09.80 at Keeneland. The sophomore is preparing for a start in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint in Lexington Oct. 31.

Shippin in from his home at The Thoroughbred Training Center, Runhappy clocked splits of :11.80, :23.40, :34.60, :46.40, :58 and 1:09.80 with regular exercise rider Omar Torres aboard. He galloped in 1:23 and 1:36.80. (Video)

“It was pretty explosive at the beginning,” trainer Maria Borell said. “I was like, ‘Easy boy.’ He definitely really wanted to go in the beginning. I had guessed he was going to do 1:10. That’s just how this horse is. Omar was asking him to slow down.”

Runhappy followed his success in the King’s Bishop with a defeat of older horses, including champion Work All Week (City Zip), in Keeneland’s GIII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. Oct. 2.

“He came out of the Phoenix really excellent; we couldn’t ask him to be training any better,” Borell said. “He’s training better for this race than he was before the King’s Bishop and the Phoenix, so he’s really coming into himself. He wants to run. He wants to be in front of everybody, even the pony at home.”

The bay returned home to The Thoroughbred Training Center and will jog a mile Thursday.

“He’ll get turned out and next week, probably Wednesday when we come back, we might just blow him out a little eighth–we’ll see,” Borell commented. “We’ll see how he comes out of [this breeze]. Looks like he came out pretty well so far.”

Fellow resident of The Thoroughbred Training Center and GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. winner Fioretti (Bernardini) remained at her home base for her breeze Wednesday. The GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint contender breezed five furlongs in 1:02.40 (1/4).

“I was really happy with it,” said trainer Anthony Hamilton, who never has had a Breeders’ Cup starter. “We plan to come over to Keeneland Tuesday night and be on the track there Wednesday morning.”