Smile Happy wins his 1st start since 2022 Kentucky Derby

Smile Happy returned a winner Thursday in an optional-claiming allowance race going 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn. The race was his first start since he finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby.

Settled at the middle of a well-strung field of seven, he chased patiently as long-shot leader Seize the Night set opening fractions of 23.44 seconds for the quarter and 47.67 seconds for the half. Smile Happy edged closer into the far turn, engaging outside of the pacesetter and the stalking Speed Bias near the five-sixteenths pole.

Although Speed Bias chased resolutely to the finish, Smile Happy's class prevailed. Jockey Francisco Arrieta drove him clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back to Seize the Night, who held for the show by 3 1/2 lengths over Smile Happy's Grade 1-placed stablemate Creative Minister.

The final time for Smile Happy was 1:48.95 for nine furlongs over a sloppy and sealed track. An odds-on favorite, the Kenny McPeek trainee paid $3.80 to win. The victory brought his career record to 6: 3-2-0 with earnings of $613,410. Like the whole field, Smile Happy was protected under the second-level allowance condition Thursday and not in for the optional-claiming price.

Smile Happy has shown class since the beginning of his career. He was undefeated in two starts as a juvenile, winning both a maiden special-weight race at Keeneland and the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), where he beat future Grade 1 winners Classic Causeway and White Abarrio. At age 3, he finished second in both the Risen Star (G2) and the Blue Grass (G1) before crossing the wire eighth in the Run for the Roses.

The race was also the 4-year-old debut for Smile Happy's stablemate Creative Minister. He had most recently finished sixth in an allowance-optional claiming race at Keeneland on Oct. 20.

"Unfortunately, they both fell under the same allowance condition and they were both ready at the same time," McPeek said Tuesday afternoon to Robert Yates of Oaklawn. "Reluctant to run them against each other, but really, development-wise, it’s good for both horses."

Creative Minister still seeks his first win since an impressive allowance-optional claiming triumph on the Kentucky Derby undercard last year, though he finished third in both the Preakness and the Smarty Jones (G3) last year in the meantime.