Jay Em Ess Stable's Happy Medium equaled his career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure when he coasted home the seven-length winner of a non-winners of two optional claimer going 6 ½ furlongs Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.
A 3-year-old son of Runhappy, Happy Medium has gone 3-for-4 this year, his only loss coming in his debut where he finished third going seven furlongs at Aqueduct in March.
Michelle Nevin, who trains the Kentucky-bred gelding, said that she was pleased with Happy Medium's effort.
“He's doing all the right things,” said Nevin. “We're very happy with him and we are taking each logical step as he's gone along and he's really shown up.”
Happy Medium earned his first 103 Beyer with a 9 ¼ length maiden special weight winner at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in his second start. He followed with a five-length victory over a sloppy and sealed main track at Aqueduct on November 13.
Nevin said Happy Medium's effort Saturday was the best of his career.
“Yesterday, he looked more in control of the race every step of the way,” Nevin said. “When he broke his maiden, he did it easily but it maybe didn't look as impressive as yesterday.”
Nevin said she is content to take her time with Happy Medium, who finished the 6 ½ furlongs in a final time of 1:15.88, 1.53 seconds off the track record of 1:14.35.
“We'll just get past this and get past this, get back to training, and see how we are and then we'll make our decisions down the road a little bit,” Nevin said. “We're going to have to see how he comes out of this race. It was a huge effort, so I'm not in a rush to pick a spot. Once I feel like he's back on his feet again, we'll see what's available to us.”
Nevin also provided an update on multiple stakes winner My Boy Tate and stakes winner Our Last Buck, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series on December 5.
My Boy Tate, whose last win came in the Leon Reed Memorial at Finger Lakes Racetrack in Farmington, N.Y., two starts back, worked a half-mile in :49.55 Sunday morning over Belmont Park's dirt training track.
Nevin said the 7-year-old gelding could be headed to the $100,000 Say Florida Sandy – slated for January 8 at the Big A – for a fourth time after winning the seven-furlong sprint for state-breds in 2018 and finishing off the board the last two years.
“He's doing good,” Nevin said. “We're happy with how he's been. I think there's a spot for him in January, so we'll see.”
Our Last Buck also worked Sunday, completing his half-mile drill over Belmont's training track in :51.89. Nevin said she will bide her time and let the 7-year-old gelding let her know what the next move will be for him.
“He's going great, too,” said Nevin. “We aren't in any rush and we'll see what becomes available for him.”
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