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Smile Happy Possible for Florida Derby

Lucky Seven Stable's Smile Happy (Runhappy) is among possible candidates for Gulfstream's GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 2, according to trainer Ken McPeek. Lucky Seven Stable also owns McPeek-trained Rattle N Roll (Connect), who is scheduled to make his 2022 debut in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 5 at Gulfstream. Smile Happy had been expected to make his second start of the year in either the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 9 or the GII Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Mar. 26.

“You may see him in the Florida Derby,” said McPeek, who saddled Harlan's Holiday for a victory in the 2002 renewal. “I'm going to try and keep him and Rattle separated because they have the same owner. You'll see one in the Blue Grass and one in the Florida Derby following the Fountain of Youth.”

Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll are both stabled at Gulfstream. Smile Happy had a series of six workouts at Gulfstream prior to his second-place effort in the Feb. 19 GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds.

“This is a really good horse,” said McPeek. “He ran well in New Orleans. I think he could have been a tad closer, but the pace didn't set up well for him. He still showed real bravery to run late. This horse has a very bright future.”

Smile Happy won at first asking at Keeneland Oct. 29, closing from off the pace to win easily going 8 1/2 furlongs. He returned to capture the Nov. 27 GII Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs by 3 1/4 lengths, defeating Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway), who subsequently won the GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa and third-place finisher White Abarrio (Race Day), winner of the GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream in their respective 2022 debuts.

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TERF Launches 2022 Grant Cycle

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF) has opened its 2022 grant awards cycle. TERF supports students in pursuit of education in equine industry careers and to fund research efforts. Awards will be considered for qualified federally tax exempt 501-c-3 organizations. Information regarding the grant award program can be found at www.terfusa.org. Grant applications will be accepted through Apr. 1 for applications relating to equine education and scholar support and June 8 for research grant funding applications.

Selected by the Board of Directors, grant recipients will receive written notice of TERF's acceptance of their funding request and/or notice via phone or e-mail by no later than June 30 of the application year for education and scholar support, and not later than Sept. 1 for research grant awards.

In 2021, TERF awarded $ 100,500 in grants to 12 organizations.

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Medina Spirit to be Interred at Old Friends

Zedan Racing's Medina Spirit (Protonico), first across the wire in the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby but officially disqualified this week, will be laid to rest at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm near Georgetown, Kentucky. Old Friends made the announcement Friday morning. An open house, which will be open to the public, will be held Tuesday, Apr. 5, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Medina Spirit died Dec. 6 after a workout at Santa Anita. His ashes will be interred in Old Friends's Nikki Bacharach Memorial Garden.

“The Zedan Racing family was deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our beloved Medina Spirit,” said Amr Zedan of Zedan Racing. “He brought us great joy during his time, and we will forever cherish his spectacular win in the Kentucky Derby. Medina Spirit truly had the heart of a champion and it is very comforting to know that he will be laid to rest with many of racing's greats and the wonderful people at Old Friends Farm.”

Old Friends will place Medina Spirit's final resting place next to Kentucky Derby winners Charismatic and War Emblem, both of whom were pensioned to Old Friends at the conclusion of their breeding careers.

“Medina Spirit was loved deeply by us and everyone at the barn,” said Bob and Jill Baffert. “We grieve his loss, but take comfort knowing he will be buried among some of racing's all-time greats at Old Friends.”

Michael Blowen, the president and founder of Old Friends, added: “We're very grateful to Mr. Zedan and Bob Baffert for allowing us the honor and privilege of burying Medina Spirit's ashes at Old Friends. His gravestone, which will be a constant reminder of his spectacular achievements, will be placed next to Charismatic and War Emblem in the Nikki Bacharach Memorial Garden where his legion of fans can pay their respects.”

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In Saudi With Country Grammer, Zedan Discusses Medina Spirit

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia–Amr Zedan has a runner in the world's richest race staged Saturday in his home country of Saudi Arabia. The Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer (Tonalist), whom he part-owns with WinStar Farm and Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, was not however the horse he had hoped to be running.

Zedan's original intention was for Medina Spirit (Protonico) to be lining up in the country from which his name is derived, but the horse who finished first past the post in the last year's Kentucky Derby collapsed and died in December. On Monday he was finally disqualified from the Derby following his post-race positive test for betamethasone, and Mandaloun, who is another in Riyadh for the $20 million Saudi Cup, was officially promoted to winner.

“I have always wanted to take part in the Saudi Cup meet and unfortunately Medina [Spirit] was pointed here but passed away on Dec. 6 with a heart attack,” Zedan said in a press conference at King Abdulaziz Racecourse Friday morning.

“I just could not miss out this year so Bob and I worked backwards and tried to find the best horse that was suited to the Saudi Cup and that was Country Grammer.”

The emotion wrought from Monday's decision by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission was clear in Zedan's voice when he spoke briefly at Wednesday's post-position draw after selecting gate one for Country Grammer. He expanded on his feelings since first receiving news from Baffert of Medina Spirit's positive test last May.

“I was up on the highest mountain and I was thrown off a cliff,” said Zedan, a board member of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

“Medina is a horse that I will forever cherish. I don't mean to sound sentimental but I get emotional every time I watch the race–I had to stop watching the race. We came into the [Derby] not expecting a whole lot, we were 12-1. I still have a text message from Bob saying 'there's speed down the outside, we have a chance.' And we won.”

With that result having now been officially overturned and Baffert facing a 90-day suspension, both those decisions are being appealed by Medina Spirit's owner and trainer.

Zedan's loyalty to Baffert is clear. He opened the press conference by declaring him to be “the best trainer in the world in my view” and he added, “I believe in due process and I believe that there is an unjust and uncalled-for witch hunt on Bob Baffert.

“Where we are right now is that we are going through the full due process. We have filed for a stay, we have filed for an appeal in front of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and I have the highest respect for all and I understand, and I believe that once our case is objectively considered we will prevail.”

Mandaloun, currently second-favorite behind last year's winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) to lift the Saudi Cup, also has close ties to Saudi having been bred by the late Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms.

“I have much respect for Mandaloun and much respect for his owners,” Zedan said. “They have been the classiest and they have written the book as to how to conduct, and how to build a premium world-class equine and racing operation.”

He continued, “They have been nothing but supportive. They understand that there is a process, and they have clearly said that if the Kentucky Derby is awarded to Medina again it's with their brother, and I reciprocate by saying that they are both Saudi and I'll be just as happy if they are officially declared the Kentucky Derby winner.”

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