Happy Jack and Worse Read Sanchez will represent Doug O'Neill in Saturday's Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, a major West Coast prep in Arcadia, Calif., for the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 9 and beyond that the Kentucky Derby on May 7.
“We might have brought back Happy Jack a little too quick,” said O'Neill in explaining his disappointing fifth in the Feb. 6 Robert Lewis Stakes in which he was 27 ¼ lengths behind Messier, who won the race by 15 lengths.
The Lewis was only two weeks from Happy Jack's previous race, a maiden victory on Jan. 22.
“We freshened him up a bit and we're taking the blinkers off,” O'Neill said. “Abel (Cedillo) worked him yesterday a solid seven-eighths (in 1:26.20). He looked well and we expect him to rebound and get back to his debut effort.”
The San Felipe offers 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, 20 to the runner-up, 10 to the third-place finisher and five to fourth.
O'Neill also has Reddam Racing's Team Merchants nominated to Saturday's Frank E. Kilroe Mile and the San Carlos Stakes presented by Fan Duel.
“We're going to look at both spots,” O'Neill said. “He could go either way but we'll look at which one will give him the best chance, although we're kind of leaning on Matt Nakatani (agent for Mario Gutierrez) to help us decide.”
Gutierrez, the go-to rider for Reddam Racing, has ridden Team Merchants in his last seven races, winning once on both turf and dirt.
O'Neill plans to leave for Dubai Wednesday and stay through Sunday visiting with Hot Rod Charlie as he continues preparation for the 12 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.
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