Smile Happy's last trip under the famed Churchill Downs twin spires — a distant eighth in the 2022 Kentucky Derby — didn't pan out the way his connections had hoped, but they found the winner's circle on the 2023 Kentucky Oaks undercard. The 4-year-old colt, piloted by Brian Hernandez Jr., took a stalking trip to victory in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes.
Despite an initial reluctance to load into the starting gate, Smile Happy broke alertly in the 1 1/16-mile contest and settled alongside pacesetter and favorite West Will Power and just ahead of rival Art Collector. With a half mile to go, Hernandez Jr. let his mount out a little as Art Collector began making a move, and hustled him into a drive at the top of the stretch. Art Collector made a determined run at them, but Smile Happy turned away the threat, hitting the wire by two lengths.
Art Collector hung on for second, with 3-5 favorite West Will Power in third and Last Samurai fourth
Reigning Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike settled at the back of the field early and was never a factor, finishing second from last.
The final time was 1:41.29. The full chart is here.
Ken McPeek trains the son of Runhappy for owner Lucky Seven Stable, which is the nom de course for Leo and Ginny Mackin and their children. After his Derby run, McPeek did not bring him back to the races until this March, when he won an allowance/optional claimer at Oaklawn, followed by a third in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile.
McPeek told reporters that Smile Happy has something of a unique personality.
“He's a little bit of a tricky horse to deal with,” McPeek said. “He gets a special pony to the track every day. He's a special horse.”
McPeek said the G1 Stephen Foster could be the next target, possibly preceded by the G3 Blame.
Smile Happy was bred in Kentucky by Moreau Bloodstock International and White Bloodstock, and is out of Pleasant Tap mare Pleasant Smile. He was sold as a weanling for $175,000 by Moreau Bloodstock to Cooper Bloodstock at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale; he went to auction again at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase the following year, where he hammered for $185,000 to Lucky Seven via consignor Hunter Valley Farm.
Smile Happy paid $17.48, $6.74, and $3.18.
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