Crazy Beautiful pulls away after finding room in Runhappy Debutante

HENDERSON, Ky. – After finally finding clear sailing, Crazy Beautiful made quick work of what remained of the $100,000 Runhappy Debutante when staying unbeaten Sunday at Ellis Park.

Weaving betwixt and between several of her 11 rivals from the quarter-pole to the furlong grounds, Crazy Beautiful sped away to win the seven-furlong race by 3 3/4 lengths over longshot Mania. The winner returned $7 as favorite after finishing in 1:23.71 over a fast track.

“My horse was much the best in the race,” said Rafael Bejarano, who was aboard Crazy Beautiful, a gray Liam’s Map filly owned by the Phoenix Thoroughbred III partnership and trained by Kenny McPeek. “This is going to be a really good horse.”

Crazy Beautiful was a convincing winner of her lone prior start, a one-mile turf race July 5 at Ellis. She becomes a prime candidate for the one-mile Pocahontas on Sept. 3 at her home base, Churchill Downs.

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Mania, always near the pace, held second by three-quarters of a length over late-closing Fabricate. An objection against the winner by James Graham, who rode fourth-finisher Xtrema, for alleged interference at the top of the stretch was disallowed by the stewards.

Pico d’Oro wins Runhappy Juvenile

An hour earlier, Pico d’Oro reeled in front-running Medicine Tail to post a mild upset of the colt-and-gelding counterpart to the Debutante, the $100,000 Runhappy Juvenile.

Ridden by Joe Talamo for the Sandin Syndicate Stable and trainer Bill Morey, Pico d’Oro ($11.20) was one of two maidens in a field of seven colts and geldings coming into the Juvenile. The Kentucky-bred son of Curlin rallied from well back to win by two lengths, finishing in 1:23.95, in his third career start.

Pico d’Oro “had slightly troubled trips his first two outs,” Morey said. “We’ve always liked him.”

Medicine Tail was another seven lengths before Perfect Mistake, while Cowan, the 9-10 favorite, faded badly to finish fifth.

The race was marred by the breakdown of Libertyrun, a son of Runhappy. The colt was euthanized after being vanned off the track about 40 yards from the wire. Jockey Miguel Mena was momentarily shaken up but returned to fulfill the remainder of his mounts. No other horses or riders were involved.