Happy to Go to Aim for Lassie

Crystal Racing Enterprises locally based Happy to Go, a sharp juvenile debut winner on May 29 at Arlington International Racecourse and subsequent third-place finisher in the $125,000 My Dear Stakes at Woodbine on June 28, will focus on the Listed $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie as a meet-end goal, according to trainer Armando De La Cerda.

“She’s doing great.  She’s a tough filly; a little mean in the barn, but very talented,” De La Cerda said.  “She will work five-eighths (Friday) and we will run her up at Woodbine on August 9 (in the $125,000 Ontario Debutante) and then point her to the Lassie.

“Last time she should have got second place,” De La Cerda continued.  “The jockey said she broke great, but then he took hold of her and maybe had her too far back.  When she started to make her move, the horse who got second was all over the place and my filly couldn’t find a spot to run.”  Happy to Go, a granddaughter of A. P. Indy out of a mare by middle distance turf specialist Dove Hunt, should appreciate the additional real estate in the six-furlong Woodbine event and doubly so when possibly ascending to the Lassie’s seven panels.