Runhappy runs to his sixth in a row in the Malibu

Marking is a horse with a big future. That future will have to wait just a bit, though, because today he ran into Runhappy. Looking as impressive as he has in each of his now six straight wins, the son of Super Saver did what he does best in today’s Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, running the field off their feet to the tune of an uncomplicated 3 ½-length victory on opening day at Santa Anita.

Uncomplicated has been anything but the story for Runhappy since he came home a convincing winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on October 31. The next day his trainer, Maria Borell, was fired in a highly publicized squabble with owner James “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, and racing manager, Laura Wohlers. With Wohlers now the trainer of record, and Hall of Fame rider, Gary Stevens replacing the injured Edgar Prado, it was back to business today for the soon to be Sprint Champion.

As the speed of the seven-horse field, it was no surprise to see the 1-2 favorite go right to the lead. Marking, the second choice at 9-2, tried to take the race to Runhappy early, but after an opening quarter in :22.62, the early leader turned it up a notch, and through a testing :44.81 first half, the big favorite opened up a clear lead heading into the final three furlongs of the seven furlong affair.

His main competition continued to try hard, but Runhappy was simply too good on this day for anyone to think of an upset. He cruised to the wire a much the best winner, with Marking, the only horse who ever got close, a clear second, 1 ¾-lengths clear of the third choice, and show finisher, Lord Nelson.

“He blows me away,” said Stevens. “That was only the second time I’ve sat on him (first in a race) and to get to feel that power coming into the stretch was awesome. I just want to say ‘Thank you to Edgar Prado.’ Edgar and I had a couple of conversations earlier in the week when I found out I was going to ride this horse and he told me quite a few things about him that helped me today. It was all Runhappy though and he’s an extremely special horse.

“It was harder to pull him up today, than to ride him during the race,” continued the winning rider. “There was some oil on the reins and they were slipping. My hand slipped off of his mane coming away from the gate and I cut my finger pretty good. He usually breaks a step slow but he broke like a Quarter Horse today. He was a complete professional. I was hoping to get three graded wins today but we got two of them! No better way to start the Santa Anita Meet. It’s perfect.”

Bred in Kentucky by Wayne, Gray, and Brian Lyster, Runhappy raised his near perfect record to 8-7-0-0, while raising his career earnings to $1,481,300. The $200,000 yearling purchase’s only loss came when he finished 9th in the LeComte Stakes in his second career start.

Final time for the seven panels over the fast main track at Santa Anita was 1:21.76. The heavy favorite paid $3.00 for the win, and with the second choice easily taking second, the Malibu exacta was only worth $9.80 for those so inclined to play the favorites.

For the runner-up Marking, you have to feel hopeful for a big future. He came to California with the benefit of only two career races; an easy maiden win at Belmont, and an easy allowance score at Aqueduct, to call on as experience. And today he ran into a buzzsaw, and a true champion. The result was as expected, but the race Marking ran bodes well for the son of Bernardini moving forward to his four-year-season.

By winning today’s featured event, Runhappy joins an impressive roll-call of Malibu winners, which include; Round Table, Native Diver, Buckpasser, Damascus, Ancient Title, J. O. Tobin, Spectacular Bid, Precisionist, Ferdinand, Afternoon Deelites, Rock Hard Ten, and most recently the ill-fated champion, Shared Belief. He also completes a sure to be Eclipse Award season on an impressive streak.

From the moment he first raced, blitzing the field at Turfway Park a year ago, Runhappy has been a most fascinating horse to follow. No matter the story that is created by his human connections, this horse is a true running fool. The kind of horse that you can’t wait to see what he does next. What’s in store for him in 2016? If his connections stay true to the plan, we have the stretching out of Runhappy to route distances in which to look forward. Stay tuned, racefans.