Wesley Ward pupil Happy Like a Fool (Distorted Humor) makes her first try back in the States since an overseas trip in Belmont's GIII Matron S. Sunday. An easy winner when unveiled at Keeneland in April, she was second at short odds in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S. in June and sixth in York's G2 Lowther S. Aug. 24. “She's a very talented filly,” said Ward. “She has a good pedigree and her works here on the dirt at Keeneland have been really eye opening. She has speed, but is very tractable, so she can pretty much be placed anywhere in the race and we'd feel fairly confident. She won her debut on the dirt and followed with a strong showing at Ascot where she was just beat at the wire. At York, the ground came up soft with a late shower just before the race which she didn't take to, but following that race coming back here to Keeneland she's been great and developing really well.” Honey Graeme (Graeme Hall) showed good speed to graduate at first asking over a next-out winner at Saratoga Aug. 6, and was third last time trying synthetic in Woodbine's Ontario Debutante S. Sept. 9. Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy) was sharp taking the first two races of her career, including the White Clay Creek S. at Delaware Aug. 9. She figures to appreciate the cutback in distance off a 10th-place run in Churchill's GII Pocahontas S. Sept. 16. Valuable Package (Kantharos) was a dominant box-to-wire winner of her Monmouth Park debut Sept. 10.
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