Clocker: Runhappy flaunts speed in Breeders’ Cup Sprint work

Keeneland

Track: Fast

Weather: Clear

Temp.: 54

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A couple of hours before the pre-entries for the 13 Breeders’ Cup races were announced, RUNHAPPY announced himself as one of the horses to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, putting on a sensational display of speed over a glib Keeneland main track on Wednesday.

Runhappy was one of only two Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants to work at Keeneland on Wednesday, along with CONQUEST DADDYO, who will compete in the Juvenile Turf.

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The freezing conditions that greeted horsemen early Sunday morning are now a distant memory, with the temperature already in the mid-50s when the track opened for training Wednesday before climbing into the low 70s by post time in the afternoon.

Runhappy took a while to loosen up before breaking off to begin his drill shortly after the renovation break. He jogged more than 1 1/4 miles the wrong way before reversing direction and heading to the pole. He was full of run right from the start of the work, with exercise rider Omar Torres trying his best to throttle down Runhappy’s speed down the backstretch. Runhappy still posted a 22.96-second quarter-mile split under restraint.

Torres began to nudge Runhappy along approaching the stretch and allowed him to fan out about four paths wide off the bend after completing a half-mile in 46.14. Runhappy remained under mild encouragement to the wire, completing the six furlongs in an eye-catching 1:09.63 before galloping out with great energy, seven furlongs in 1:22.78, up a mile in 1:36.58.

Trained by Maria Borell, Runhappy is one freaky-fast and talented horse who might be even better when stretched out to a mile or perhaps a bit farther next season. His main problem could come at the start of the Sprint, as he does seem to need a little time to push off and get to his cruising speed leaving the gate.

Conquest Daddyo got a good schooling over the main track with jockey Joe Bravo aboard. Conquest Daddyo broke off a couple of lengths behind workmate Sky Fire, with Bravo keeping him in behind his target and allowing him to eat plenty of dirt through a 25.45 first quarter-mile. Bravo had to get into Conquest Daddyo just a bit after they fell a little farther back of the workmate.

Bravo let him continue to take the kickback before finally easing him out leaving the three-sixteenths pole. Conquest Daddyo finally took control of the work at midstretch, edging clear without need of urging after five furlongs in 1:00.73, although he did pull up rather abruptly approaching the turn.

Sheer Drama turned in her final work for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Wednesday at Gulfstream Park, going five furlongs in 58.88 seconds, according to track clockers. Her splits were 23.63 and 35.66, and she galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.53. Trainer David Fawkes said he was happy with the work. Sheer Drama will leave by van for Keeneland on Thursday evening.