Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Runhappy ends long layoff in Ack Ack

Runhappy showed brilliance last year at 3, when he defeated his elders in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

This year, the champion sprinter of 2015 is going down a different path.

Runhappy is being pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and his road to the race starts Saturday at Churchill Downs. Runhappy is set to make his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Ack Ack, a one-turn mile intended as his springboard to the Breeders’ Cup.

The Dirt Mile, which will be run around two turns, is Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

“We always wanted to take him longer,” said Laura Wohlers, who trains Runhappy for Jim McIngvale. “He has got a really long, fluid stride, and I think mechanically, he’ll go longer. And he’s by Super Saver out of a Broken Vow mare. We always planned on running him long. It was always our goal.”

Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby in 2010. Runhappy’s dam, Bella Jolie, won her maiden at 1 1/16 miles at Delaware Park.

Runhappy, whose success sprinting last year led to him being kept at one turn, is getting a later start to his 4-year-old season because some bone bruising held up his training schedule earlier this year.

“We caught it at a time it wasn’t too severe,” Wohlers said. “We gave him 60 days off.”

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Runhappy has since shown his old brilliance in the mornings, among his moves five furlongs in 58 seconds Sept. 1 at Keeneland.

“He’s been training well,” Wohlers said. “His works are fast and strong, but he’s been well within himself. I’m happy with the way he’s training. I know it’s always tough to come off a layoff and go a mile. I think he’s up to the task.”

Runhappy is expected to face five others in the Ack Ack. Wohlers said provided things go well Saturday and coming out of the race, plans are to ship somewhat early to Santa Anita. The horse is now based in Lexington, Ky.

“We’ll probably go nine or 10 days in advance,” she said. “We’ll probably try to go out there, get a breeze out there. In the Malibu, he showed he handled the track and liked the track, so we don’t need [a breeze over the track]. Changing time zones, I think it’s a lot better to go get acclimated to the time zone, if nothing else. It’s a three-hour difference.”

Runhappy made a splash when last seen at Santa Anita, winning the Grade 1 Malibu over a field that included Lord Nelson. The effort came in Runhappy’s most recent start Dec. 26.