Happiness Is holds off Euphony

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Under an enterprising ride from Rosemary Homeister Jr., Happiness Is held off favored Euphony by a nose to capture the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes to conclude the Claiming Crown card Saturday.

A field of seven fillies and mares contested the one-mile Lady Canterbury and all eyes were on Euphony, a winner of six consecutive stakes events who was sent postward as the odds-on favorite. Fabulous Babe carved out the early pace with Happiness Is sitting just behind her. Cliff Berry elected to hold Euphony off the leaders. As the field swept through the far turn, Homeister Jr. sent Happiness Is after the leader.

Euphony slipped to the outside as Happiness Is battled in the upper stretch with Fabulous Babe, who drifted out steadily through the final furlong. Euphony closed the gap to the finish but the photo finish revealed she just missed. Lady Carlock rallied for third, 3 3/4 lengths behind the top pair, and a half-length in front of Fabulous Babe. Happiness Is completed the mile over firm going in 1:34.59, tied for the fourth fastest time in 16 renewals of the Lady Canterbury.

Happiness Is returned $10.40 as the third choice in the wagering. The Lady Canterbury was the first stakes win for Happiness Is, a 5-year old daughter of Dynaformer produced from the graded stakes winning Ends Well mare McKaymackenna. Happiness Is races in the colors of her breeder, Vegso Racing Stable, and is trained by Tom Proctor.