Kenny McPeek makes plans for Smile Happy, Rattle N Roll

Trainer Kenny McPeek confirmed Lucky Seven Stable’s graded-stakes winner Smile Happy for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, but his Grade 1-winning stablemate for the same owner Rattle N Roll will take his show on the road.

The nine-furlong Whitney offers a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Both Rattle N Roll, who was second, and Smile Happy, who finished fifth, last raced in the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster (G1) on July 1 at Ellis Park. McPeek said Rattle N Roll will target either the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga or the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. Each race will be run at1 1/4 miles on Sept. 2 and provide the winners automatic berths in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Smile Happy, who captured the Alysheba (G2) on May 5 at Churchill Downs, got his first glimpse of Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track on Friday.

“He galloped really well this morning over the Oklahoma track,” McPeek said. “This was his first day here. We stood him in the gate, backed him out and gave him some gate schooling. He did well.”

Smile Happy last breezed on July 22 at Churchill Downs, completing a half-mile move in 49.0 seconds.

“We’ve had plenty of work into him at Churchill. He had a work days ago with a long, strong gallop, and I don’t know that we’ll breeze him at all,” McPeek said.

Smile Happy earned a career-high 110 Beyer Speed Figure from his Alysheba conquest, according to Daily Racing Form. He defeated Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner Art Collector and next-out Stephen Foster winner West Will Power by two lengths. He kicked off his 4-year-old season March 16 with an optional-claiming triumph over a sloppy and sealed Oaklawn main track in his first start since finishing eighth in last year’s Kentucky Derby. During his juvenile campaign he captured the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

McPeek described the 4-year-old son of medication-free stallion Runhappy as a quirky horse who likes doing things his own way.

“He’s a bit of an alpha. He wants to run the show, but the talent is unquestioned,” McPeek said.

McPeek said Smile Happy will be ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

Smile Happy, bought for $185,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton select sale, is out of the Pleasant Tap mare Pleasant Smile.