The Ken McPeek-trained duo of 'TDN Rising Star' SMILE HAPPY (Runhappy) and CREATIVE MINISTER (Creative Cause) kick off their 4-year-old seasons at Oaklawn Park Thursday.

Smile Happy, winner of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at two and runner-up as the favorite in last year's GI Toyota Blue Grass S., makes his first start since finishing eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby. The 2-1 morning-line favorite gets first-time Lasix while facing seven rivals here.

Creative Minister, a respectable third in last year's GI Preakness S., came within a nose of recording a career high in Churchill's Bourbon Trail S. Sept. 24. He was a well-beaten eighth in an optional claimer at Keeneland when last seen in the fall. TJCIS PPs

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3rd-GP, $60K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 12:58 p.m. ET

The third-priciest juvenile to sell at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream 2-year-old sale when he brought $1.3 million after working an eighth in :10, Palm Island (Uncle Mo) is unveiled for the partnership of Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg Limited (Michael Kuessner). His full-sister Dream Tree won the first five of her career, including the 2017 GI Starlet S. and two other graded races. Palm Island has been working well for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, including a bullet 1:01 for five furlongs (1/9) at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 29. He'll have to get by Nitrous Channel (Nyquist), another pricey Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream grad trained by former Pletcher assistant George Weaver. The $625,000 FTFMAR buy (who also worked in :10 flat) debuts for R. A. Hill Stable (Raymond A. Hill), Reeves Thoroughbred Racing (Dean Reeves), and Spedale Family Racing, LLC (Salvatore A. Spedale). His third dam is a half to champion and blue hen Serena's Song (Rahy). Nitrous Channel is bred similarly to Palm Island as both are out of Afleet Alex mares and by a champion and leading sire father-son duo.

6th-GP, $60K, Msw, 3yo, 1m70y (AWT), 2:27 p.m. ET

Robert and Lawana Low plucked My Romeo Lima (Malibu Moon) out of the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale for $610,000–the most expensive yearling that year by the late Spendthrift sire–and turned him over to Pletcher. No doubt they're hoping lightning can strike twice, as their 2016 Malibu Moon purchase at the same sale, also trained by Pletcher, would go on to become 'TDN Rising Star' Magnum Moon, eventual winner of the GI Arkansas Derby. My Romeo Lima is out of 2013 GII Vagrancy H. runner-up Fantasy of Flight (Tiznow).

3rd-SA, $69K, Aoc, 4yo/up, 7f, 4:32 p.m. ET

Michael Lund Petersen's Shaaz (Uncle Mo) takes on fellow winners after a Dec. 26 green but triumphant debut over this surface, where he notched a gaudy 105 Beyer Speed Figure. The $1.1-million topper from the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale (an eighth in :10) gets blinkers and has fit in four works since his win, including a bullet five panels in :59 (1/17) Jan. 20. A Bob Baffert trainee, Shaaz is a half to GSW Azar (Scat Daddy) from the extended family of MGSW Coal Front (Stay Thirsty) and GISW Twilight Agenda (Devil's Bag).

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2nd-TAM, $31.5K, Alw/Opt. Clm ($75K), 3yo, 1m 40y, 1:09 p.m. ET

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's EMMANUEL (More Than Ready) ran away to a well-bet debut victory and 'TDN Rising Star' honors last month at Gulfstream and will get his first two-turn test in this salty Tampa allowance early on Friday's card. Bought for $350,000 at Keeneland September, the bay was backed down to 7-5 against nine rivals when unveiled over a mile Dec. 11, shook off some early pace pressure and cruised home a 6 3/4-length winner. His rider that day, Luis Saez, travels across the Sunshine State to keep the mount. Emmanuel's main competition appears to be Conrad Farms' Golden Glider (Ghostzapper), who also impressed in a first-out victory, albeit with a totally different running style. Supported at 7-2 in a 12-horse field when unveiled going 1 1/16 miles Nov. 27 at Woodbine, the Mark Casse trainee dropped back to last before passing every rival and sweeping to the lead late for a one-length graduation. Fringe contenders include Trigger Happy (Gun Runner), who returns in just 11 days after romping to a 9 1/4-length debut score Dec. 27 at Hawthorne, Boitano (Nyquist), who earned his cap and gown for Godolphin and Eoin Harty here Nov. 27, and Cloud Play (Into Mischief), last seen running a close third in the Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile S. Oct. 11 at Presque Isle. TJCIS PPs —@JBiancaTDN

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A pair of promising-looking juvenile fillies will make their respective debuts while breaking next door to each other in this Thursday turf dash. EMPRESS TIGRESS (Classic Empire) made a big splash at OBS April when breezing a quarter-mile in an eye-popping :20 2/5, one of only two horses at the entire sale to hit that mark, and landed with Augustin Stable after the hammer dropped for $410,000. Trained by Jonathan Thomas, she's out of a half-sister to GSW/MGISP turfer Stays in Vegas (City Zip), while her second dam is a half to Persistently (Smoke Glacken), who upset the mighty Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) in the 2010 GI Personal Ensign S. over the Saratoga main track. Given the slight nod on the morning line one stall to her outside is Her World (Ire) (Caravaggio) who looks to keep things rolling for her breakout freshman sire, already represented by 11 winners from his first crop of 2-year-olds. Trained by Wesley Ward, the $400,000 Keeneland September buy shows a few snappy works over the Oklahoma turf, most recently going a half-mile in :49 flat (4/68) around dogs July 23. The gray is a half to Group 1-placed Consort (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) out of a half to MGSW Surya (Unbridled), who produced GISW Aruna (Mr. Greeley). Further down the page are six-time Grade I winner Miss Oceana (Alydar) and Group 1 winners Kitwood (Nureyev) and Magic of Life (Seattle Slew). TJCIS PPs

—@JBiancaTDN

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7th-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 7:12p.m.
Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine and West Point's FLIGHTLINE (Tapit) takes off for John Sadler Saturday. Bred by Summer Wind, the colt realized a $1-million final bid at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Out of Grade III winner Feathered (Indian Charlie), who also hit the board in the GI Frizette S., GI Starlet S. and GI American Oaks, the bay posted a sharp five-furlong work Apr. 18, stopping the watch in 1:00 2/5. Feathered, a $300,000 OBSMAR buy, was purchased by Summer Wind–in foal to War Front–for $2.35 million at KEENOV in 2016. MONEY MIKE (Into Mischief), a KEESEP graduate, makes his first start for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Racing and Stonestreet Stables. The $600,000 yearling purchase is the first foal out of MGSW Ahh Chocolate (Candy Ride {Arg}) and comes into this off several speedy works, including the latest a five-furlong move in 1:00 1/5 at Santa Anita Apr. 17. Simon Callaghan sends out SECRET WEAPON (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $650,000 KEESEP purchase. Campaigned by Qatar Racing and his breeder Peter Blum, the chestnut gets the services of Umberto Rispoli for this unveiling. TJCIS PPs

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1st-BEL, $63K, Msw, 6f, 2yo, f, 1:00 p.m. ET

Shadwell Stable’s ZAINALARAB (War Front) will get both her racing career and the Belmont fall meet underway Friday when facing five other juvenile fillies in this sprint. Bought for $1 million even at Keeneland September, the bay is the first foal out of GSW Delightful Joy (Tapit), a half-sister to GSW Cali Star (Street Cry {Ire}) and 113 Beyer-earning SW Seymourdini (Bernardini). Trained by Chad Brown, she shows a steady worktab going back to mid-July at Saratoga, highlighted by a half-mile gate breeze in :47 1/5 (5/131) there Aug. 23. Her main rival appears to be fellow firster Exact (Competitive Edge). Hammering to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $82,000 at OBS Spring after breezing a furlong in :10 flat, the chestnut shows a sharp local worktab for Todd Pletcher, capped by a four-furlong bullet in :47 flat (1/76) from the gate Saturday. TJCIS PPs

6th-GP, $65K, Msw, 6f, 2yo, f, 2:50 p.m. ET

Dede McGehee’s GLADYS (Medaglia d’Oro), a full-sister to Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra, opens her account here for trainer Kelsey Danner. Also a half to GSP Dolphus (Lookin At Lucky) and SP Wooderson (Awesome Again), the dark bay is the first product of dam Lotta Kim pairing with Medaglia d’Oro since 2011 filly Samantha Nicole. She displays a consistent Palm Meadows worktab going back to late June, most recently going a half-mile in :48 3/5 (6/30) there three days ago. TJCIS PPs

—@JBiancaTDN

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6th-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:57 p.m. ET

HAPPYMAC (Runhappy), an $800,000 RNA at the OBS June Sale (:20 3/5), looks like the one to beat in this extremely deep baby race at the Spa. The half-brother to runaway GII Amsterdam S. winner and GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby) fired a five-furlong bullet from the gate in :59 2/5 (1/12) at Saratoga Aug. 17. Happymac, drawn widest of all in post 10 for the Heiligbrodts and Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, previously brought $125,000 at KEEJAN and $360,000 at KEESEP as a yearling. He is the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

After unleashing Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) to a jaw-dropping ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance earlier this meet, trainer Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables debut another son of the Airdrie Stud freshman sire in $600,000 OBS March (:21) graduate Founder (Upstart).

The rail-drawn Newbomb (Speightstown), a half-brother to the talented GSW & MGISP My Happy Face (Tiz Wonderful), debuts for Todd Pletcher. The $155,000 FTKOCT yearling has a pair of bullet workouts on the tab for this.

The field also includes $600,000 KEESEP graduate Charleston Strong (Flatter) and $375,000 KEESEP graduate Majestic Street (Street Sense), a half-brother to MGSW St. Joe Bay (Saint Anddan). TJCIS PPs

MILLION DOLLAR WAR FRONT KEESEP YEARLING DEBUTS

10th-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 6:16 p.m. ET

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle a pair of promising youngsters here, including Shadwell Stable’s $1-million KEESEP yearling purchase ZAINALARAB (War Front). She is the first foal out of Delightful Joy (Tapit), heroine of the GIII Monmouth Oaks. Brown will also tighten the girth on Three Chimneys Farm homebred Always Carina (Malibu Moon), a half-sister to the Brown-trained unbeaten GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Structor (Palace Malice). TJCIS PPs

PRICEY GHOSTZAPPER COLT MAKES SECOND START AT DEL MAR

6th-DMR, $55K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 7:40 p.m. ET

VITTORIO (Ghostzapper), a $750,000 OBS Spring purchase (bullet :9 4/5) by Kaleem Shah, looks to build off a better-than-it-looked fifth-place finish after a slow start and wide trip on debut going five furlongs Aug. 1 (Second Chances). The bay fired a four-furlong bullet in :47 (1/113) for trainer Simon Callaghan from the gate Aug. 16. TJCIS PPs

QUEEN’S PLATE WINNER RETURNS FROM LENGTHY LAYOFF

9th-DMR, $59K, OC62K, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 9:10 p.m. ET

Canadian Classic winner ONE BAD BOY (Twirling Candy), winner of last term’s Queen’s Plate S., makes his 4-year-old debut. The dark bay, trained by Richard Baltas, was last seen finishing third as the even-money favorite in the second leg of Canada’s Triple Crown in the Prince of Wales S. at Fort Erie last July. He has been working bullets for his return, and graduated impressively in his lone prior try on grass at Santa Anita last April. TJCIS PPs

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