Kenneth McPeek | Horse Racing Free Tips

8th-Oaklawn, $106,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000), 3-16, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.95, sy, 1 1/4 lengths.
SMILE HAPPY (c, 4, Runhappy–Pleasant Smile, by Pleasant Tap) was a force on last year's GI Kentucky Derby trail as a 'TDN Rising Star', winning the GII Kentucky Jockey Cup S. in just his second start before checking in second twice–to Eclipse champion Epicenter (Not This Time) in the GII Risen Star S. and Zandon (Upstart) in Keeneland's GI Blue Grass S. Last seen beating more than half the field home in eighth under the Twin Spires, Smile Happy picked up Lasix for the first time Thursday while returning as the 4-5 favorite over a track downgraded to sloppy. Off the pace in fourth while staying in the clear off the rail around the first turn and up the backstretch, he was patiently handled while staying in range. Forced four wide for his move past the quater pole, Smile Happy was much the best down the lane, striding out to run down late leader Speed Bias (Uncle Mo) and win by 1 1/4 lengths. Creative Minister (Creative Cause) checked in fourth. Smile Happy is his dam's last reported offspring. Sales History: $175,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $185,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 6-3-2-0, $613,410. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Lucky Seven Stable (Mackin); B-Moreau Bloodstock Int'l Inc. & White Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.

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7th-Oaklawn, $103,000, Alw (NW2L)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 3-9, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.38, sy, 1 1/2 lengths.
MENDELSSOHNS MARCH (c, 3, Mendelssohn–Unappeased {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) led the whole way when debuted over a mile on the grass at the Fair Grounds Feb. 2 just to be nailed on the line by a drifting rival and awarded the win via a steward's decision. A distant 8-1 behind heavily favored Heroic Move (Quality Road), the Triple Crown-nominated colt raced in the second flight along the rail, taking kickback on the dirt for the first time. Still rated in sixth as the tightly-bunched field, paced by Heroic Move, swung around the turn, Mendelssohn's March wove his way through traffic, finally got racing room with a furlong to run, and sprinted through an opening to clear off close to home. 24-1 longshot El Tomate (Runhappy) closed from last to get up for the exacta but was 1 1/2 lengths back from Mendelssohns March.

Unappeased, already responsible for Oaklawn S. winner and GI Kentucky Derby third Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway), SW & GISP, $478,753, traces back to a prolific family that includes MGSW & G1SP Danon Ballade (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and MGISP Sligo Bay (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Third dam Ballade also produced Canadian horse of the year Glorious Song (Halo), champion grass horse MG1SW Singspiel (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}), champion 2-year-old Devil's Bag (Halo) and MGSW Saint Ballado (Halo). Unappeased has a 2-year-old Hard Spun filly but did not produce a foal last year after breedings to both Constitution and American Pharoah. Sales History: $110,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $91,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Harold Lerner LLC, Nehoc Stables, AWC Stables and Team Stallion Racing Stable; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.

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