Well-publicized Runhappy's first starter set at Churchill Downs

You’ve seen him on the track. You've been hard pressed to miss his commercials. And you've probably noticed his name associated with some of racing’s biggest events.

Now you’re about to see Runhappy's progeny take their turn at racing.

Prettyhappy on Thursday will become the first son or daughter by the 2015 champion sprinter to enter the starting gates. The filly is, appropriately, a homebred for James “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, the Houston businessman behind Runhappy’s massive publicity campaign.

Jockey Adam Beschizza will have the mount on Laura Wohlers trainee Prettyhappy in Churchill Downs’ opener Thursday, a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight sprint for 2-year-old fillies. At 15-1 on the morning line, she shows a three-furlong breeze in 36 seconds Tuesday at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky., as her most recent work.

Runhappy made his name on the course with a six-race winning streak the second half of his 3-year-old season in 2015. That run included a Breeders’ Cup Sprint triumph at Keeneland and two other Grade 1 stakes scores in Saratoga’s King’s Bishop and Santa Anita’s Malibu.

Runhappy, a son of Super Saver, retired after the 2016 campaign and stands at Claiborne Farm for a $25,000 fee. McIngvale’s ad campaign for the medication-free stallion has included sponsorships of Saratoga’s Travers Stakes, Belmont Park’s Metropolitan Mile and last year’s Kentucky Downs meet.

McIngvale has also offered a $100,000 bonus for Runhappy progeny who win non-restricted maiden special weight races this year at Belmont and Saratoga.

Prettyhappy’s competition Thursday will include two American Pharoah fillies making their first starts.

Tequila Queen is the 2-1 favorite Thursday for trainer Wesley Ward, and fits the profile of a young sprinter Ward could take next month to Royal Ascot. Mad Maddy, another daughter of the 2015 Triple Crown winner, is the 3-1 second choice for trainer Steve Asmussen.

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