Following comeback win, Happy Saver will point to Suburban

ELMONT, N.Y. – Happy Saver, who came off a seven-month layoff to win a one-mile allowance race last Friday, will be pointed to the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on July 3, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday.

Pletcher said the timing of the Suburban appeals to him as much, if not more than the 1 1/4-mile distance of the race. Happy Saver won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles here last October.

Friday’s allowance win was his first start since then. He won by a length, covering a mile in 1:36.57 and earning a 96 Beyer Speed Figure. Happy Saver is now 5 for 5 in his career.

“I was a little concerned that we didn’t have him cranked up enough,” Pletcher said. “He had a fairly moderate work tab leading into it, but he galloped out pretty strongly in his two five-eighths breezes. For a mature horse that carries a lot of condition, I don’t think we overdid it getting him ready.”

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Pletcher said that Sainthood, winner of Saturday’s off-the-turf $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby at 1 1/4 miles on turf on July 10.