runhappy | Horse Racing Free Tips

Saturday’s Insights: Freshly Minted Sophomores Debut

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

HALF TO RUNHAPPY BEGINS HIS CAREER

8th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:42 p.m. EDT
PRAYER BOOK (Uncle Mo) gets the new year and his career started for seven-time Eclipse-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Stonestreet bred the half-brother to champion and triple Grade I winner Runhappy (Super Saver), then sold him for a $500,000 hammer price at Keeneland September and stayed in to race the now 3-year-old in partnership with Harrell Ventures LLC. Stonestreet had purchased his dam for $1.6 million in 2015 just after Runhappy won the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Prayer Book will have to get by Steadfast Stable’s Listowel Lad (Sky Mesa), another firster who is out of a GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. winner in Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor). The mare has already thrown two black-type winners from four starters, including GSW & GISP Caroline Thomas (Giant’s Causeway). Listowel Lad debuts for Barclay Tagg, who just lost stable star Tiz the Law (Constitution) to retirement. Flanagan Racing’s Please the Pharoah (American Pharoah) gets another shot here after a no-impact debut Nov. 14. The $320,000 OBS March buy (:21 1/5) is a half to English champion Certify (Elusive Quality) and to additional Grade I winner Cry and Catch Me (Street Cry {Ire}).

GODOLPHIN PAIR FACE OFF

10th-FG, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 7:21 EDT
Some well-bred first-time starters, including a pair of Godolphin homebreds, make their debuts in this loaded Fair Grounds maiden. The first Godolphin runner is the Mike Stidham-trained and cleverly named GERSHWIN (Distorted Humor), who is out of the operation’s five-time Grade I winner Music Note (A.P. Indy). The mare is a half to another musically named multiple winner at the top level in Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}) and produced the 2020 GII Jim Dandy S. winner and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup runner-up in Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). The Brad Cox trainee Colonel Bowman (Curlin) is Godolphin’s other entrant. The colt looks to become the sixth winner out of GI Ballerina S. winner Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again), who is a half to GISW Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), the dam of GISW Mi Sueno (Pulpit). Cox also sends Jerry Marks Stables LLC’s $180,000 Keeneland September buy Donzi (Distorted Humor), whose dam is a full-sister to GI Oak Leaf S. victress Rigoletta (Concerto), who in turn produced GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Battle of Midway (Smart Strike).

The post Saturday’s Insights: Freshly Minted Sophomores Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Runhappy Colt Nicky The Vest ‘Ran A Good Number’ Winning Debut For Jonathan Thomas

Robert LaPenta's Nicky the Vest impressed trainer Jonathan Thomas in his career debut win in the finale on Friday's program, where he led gate-to-wire in securing a 3 ¼-length triumph under Kendrick Carmouche in a time of 1:40.67.

Bred in New York by Highclere, the juvenile son of freshman sire Runhappy garnered an 82 Beyer first out against his Empire State-bred counterparts at odds of 5-1 going a one-turn mile.

Thomas has not thought past Nicky the Vest's debut victory but will sort out his options and expressed excitement in what the future holds.

“The scenario played out well and the horse did everything you could ask a firster to do,” Thomas said. “We're still going to see how he comes out of his race. I'm sure we'll keep options open and see how things shake out. He ran a good number, a good number no matter the company. We're really happy with what we saw the other day. He had been training nicely in the morning, so it was good to see that replicated in the afternoon.”

Nicky the Vest is out of the Cat Thief mare Tazarine, whose six offspring of racing age are all winners. He was purchased for $110,000 from the 2019 OBS October Yearling Sale from consigner Stuart Morris.

The post Runhappy Colt Nicky The Vest ‘Ran A Good Number’ Winning Debut For Jonathan Thomas appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Champion Runhappy’s Fee Set At $10,000 For 2021

Eclipse champion sprinter Runhappy will stand for $10,000 LFSN in 2021, Claiborne Farm announced Nov. 16.

From 34 starters, 19 (56 percent) have finished in the money, with five maiden winners, nine seconds, and five thirds.

In the sales ring, Runhappy's first-crop yearlings commanded prices up to $700,000 in 2019. This year, his first-crop 2-year-olds sold for $475,000, $435,000, etc.

Undefeated in sprint competition, Runhappy won at six different tracks, scoring on both all-weather and dirt surfaces, while racing 100-percent medication-free.

His victories included the Grade 1 King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga, where he set a new stakes record, going seven furlongs in 1:20.54. It was the fastest running of the King's Bishop in the race's 32-year history and earned a 113 Beyer Speed Figure.

In the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Runhappy set a new track record at Keeneland, completing the distance in 1:08.54. His 108 Beyer Speed Figure was the year's fastest by a 3-year-old at six furlongs.

The post Champion Runhappy’s Fee Set At $10,000 For 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Runhappy’s 2021 Stud Fee Released

Champion sprinter Runhappy (Super Saver) will stand for $10,000 LFSN in 2021, Claiborne Farm announced Tuesday.

Winner of the GI King’s Bishop S. and GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint S., the bay raced medication free. From 34 starters in his first crop, 19 have finished in the money, with five winners.

The post Runhappy’s 2021 Stud Fee Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post