Trainer Kenny McPeek confirmed Lucky Seven Stable's graded stakes winner Smile Happy for next Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga Race Course, but his Grade 1-winning stablemate for the same owner Rattle N Roll will take his show on the road.
The nine-furlong Whitney offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park.
Both Rattle N Roll [2nd] and Smile Happy [5th] last raced in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Stephen Foster on July 1 at Ellis Park. McPeek said Rattle N Roll will target either the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga or the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Both races are run at 10 furlongs on September 2 and are “Win and You're In” qualifiers for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic.
Smile Happy, who captured the Grade 2 Alysheba on May 5 at Churchill Downs, got his first glimpse of the Oklahoma training track on Friday.
“He galloped really well this morning over the Oklahoma track,” McPeek said. “This was his first day here. We stood him in the gate, backed him out and gave him some gate schooling. He did well.”
Smile Happy last breezed on July 22 at Churchill Downs, completing a half-mile move in 49 seconds flat.
“We've had plenty of work into him at Churchill. He had a work days ago with a long, strong gallop and I don't know that we'll breeze him at all,” McPeek said.
Smile Happy earned a career-high 110 Beyer Speed Figure from his Alysheba conquest, defeating Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup winner Art Collector and next-out Grade 1 Stephen Foster winner West Will Power by two lengths. He kicked off his 4-year-old season on March 16 with an optional-claiming triumph over a sloppy and sealed Oaklawn Park main track in his first start since finishing eighth in last year's Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. During his juvenile campaign, he captured the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.
McPeek described the 4-year-old son of medication-free stallion Runhappy as a quirky horse that likes doing things his own way.
“He's a bit of an alpha. He wants to run the show, but the talent is unquestioned,” McPeek said.
McPeek said Smile Happy will be ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Smile Happy, bought for $185,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Select Sale, is out of the Pleasant Tap mare Pleasant Smile.
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