Derby pedigrees: Smile Happy has Triple Crown bloodlines

Earlier this year, Smile Happy beat Zandon by a half-length for second place in the Risen Star (G2).

Last year, after winning his 2-year-old debut by 5 1/2 lengths, Smile Happy was just as impressive, dominating a full field of quality runners by 3 1/4 lengths in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). The contenders who saw his tail fading into the distance include Florida Derby (G1) hero White Abarrio, Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Classic Causeway and Lecomte (G3) victor Call Me Midnight.

Smile Happy (Runhappy - Pleasant Smile, by Pleasant Tap) was bred by Moreau Bloodstock Int'l Inc. & White Bloodstock LLC. He sold as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale for $175,000. The following year, Smile Happy was bought for $185,000 at the Fasig Tipton Select Yearling Showcase by his owners, Lucky Seven Stable (Mackin). Smile Happy has won and placed twice each in four starts and earned $549,810 and 70 Derby qualifying points.

The first three generations of Smile Happy's pedigree include Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Derby and Preakness hero Pleasant Colony, plus Derby third-place finisher Pleasant Tap.

Our 2022 Derby contender's female family bloodlines are refreshingly free of strains prevalent in most modern pedigrees, Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector. He carries only one instance of Bold Ruler, who is his fourth damsire. Instead, his pedigree recalls older generations with the names of His Majesty, his full brother Graustark, plus Stage Door Johnny and In Reality.

Runhappy (Super Saver - Bella Jolie, by Broken Vow) claimed the 2015 Eclipse Award as champion sprinter after a six-race win streak that started with an allowance optional claiming win at Horseshoe Indianapolis (formerly Indiana Grand) and ended with a 3 1/2-length triumph in the Malibu (G1). Along the way, Super Saver's son racked up victories in the King's Bishop (G1), Phoenix Stakes (G3) and Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Runhappy was retired to stud at Claiborne Farm after two off-the-board finishes as a 4-year-old.

Great things were expected from the initial crop of the much-hyped stallion, but most of his babies weren't as precocious as expected. Now, some are fulfilling their promise as older horses.

Runhappy is represented by seven graded and listed winners, led by last year's Vosburgh (G2) winner, Following Sea, and Smile Happy. None of his stakes winners have won beyond 1 1/8 miles, yet he has an optional claiming class runner who won twice at 1 1/4 miles over the Churchill dirt.

There is little black type in the first three generations of Smile Happy's distaff line.

Smile Happy is the fourth foal, third competitor, and second black-type earner out of Pleasant Smile (Pleasant Tap - Relax and Smile, by Relaunch). His half-brother Wilko Rum (Wilco) was third in a Grade 2 sprint at Camarero in Puerto Rico.

Smile Happy half-siblings were successful up to 1 1/16 miles, although one placed at 1 1/8 miles. Their dam was a claiming class sprinter/miler who was in the money in five of 12 starts and earned $15,551.

Pleasant Smile has two black-type earning half-siblings: Miracle Mets (Metfield) is a stakes-winning turf miler, and Proud Sunset (Proud Birdie) is a multiple stakes-placed sprinter.

Pleasant Smile has the Rasmussen Factor breeding trait (siblings descended from the same reine-de-course (superior mare) within five generations). Her sire Pleasant Tap is a grandson of His Majesty. That one's full brother Graustark is Pleasant Smile's second damsire.

Smile Happy's fourth dam, Pumpkin Patch, is also the fourth dam of 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero Funny Cide. Pumpkin Patch's half-sister Ortlan is the fourth dam of Empire Maker, who foiled Funny Cide's Triple Crown bid.

Smile Happy's damsire Pleasant Tap (Pleasant Colony - Never Knock, by Stage Door Johnny) was so versatile that he finished second in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Sprint and was second in the following year's Breeders' Cup Classic.

As a damsire, Pleasant Tap gets winners at all distances. His two most accomplished runners, Village King and Sahpresa, are Group 1 winners in Argentina and Great Britain.

Kentucky Derby contender or pretender?

Blue Grass Stakes runners-up rarely hit the board in the Kentucky Derby. The last one was Paddy O'Prado, second in the 2010 Blue Grass, who checked in third in the Derby. In 2007, Street Sense also was second in the Blue Grass over the Polytrack and returned to win the Derby. Closing Argument closed for third in the previous year's Blue Grass and helped create a huge exacta behind Giacomo in the Derby.

Smile Happy has a middle-distance pedigree and a router's conformation. His gait is smooth, with no extra leg motion or paddling. He switches leads properly and keeps a straight path.

Smile Happy is comfortable sitting in traffic and passing horses, but the fact that he lost ground in the Blue Grass Stakes indicates that he might not want to go 1 1/4 miles, despite the illustrious names in his pedigree.