Happy Like a Fool draws clear for Matron Stakes victory

ELMONT, N.Y. - Contrary to popular belief, not all of Wesley Ward’s 2-year-olds need the lead to be successful.

Happy Like a Fool, rated off the pace by Tyler Gaffalione, took over turning for home and drew clear to a 2 1/4-length victory over Take Charge Paula in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park. It was eight lengths back to Valuable Package in third. Tarawa and Honey Graeme completed the order of finish.

The win was the second from four starts for Happy Like a Fool, her second in two starts on dirt. She was twice beaten on turf in Europe, including a second-place finish as the favorite in a field of 23 in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting in June.

Ward has a history of preparing his 2-year-olds to win early, typically utilizing the speed that Ward trains into them in the mornings. Happy Like a Fool won her first start in April at Keeneland in front-running fashion.

Since returning from Europe, however, Ward has been training Happy Like a Fool to sit behind horses, lessons she appeared to learn well based on her Matron performance.

Under Tyler Gaffalione, Happy Like a Fool was third early while Take Charge Paula was on top, first pressured by Tarawa then overtaken by Valuable Package, who was bumped by Happy Like a Fool. Valuable Package ran an opening half-mile in 46.21 seconds, Happy Like a Fool stalking from second.

Turning for home, Happy Like a Fool took over and, though she came in a path or two, she was clear. Happy Like a Fool had to withstand an objection from Paco Lopez, aboard runner-up Take Charge Paula, that was ultimately dismissed by the stewards.

“Honestly, I felt I was in the three-path the whole race,” Gaffalione said. “To me, horses get next to each other and they kind of shy [away], but to me it was a clean trip for both horses.”

Lopez felt Take Charge Paula was briefly interfered with and came back on again.

Happy Like a Fool, a daughter of Distorted Humor owned by Merriebelle Stable, covered the six furlongs in 1:10.98 and returned $3.20 as the 1-2 favorite.

Ward said the race went exactly as he had hoped. His only concern was if Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard Honey Graeme, the second choice, would be able to box in his filly down the backstretch.

“I was looking to take her back a little bit today and the way the race unfolded it was just perfect,” Ward said. “Irad slid a little farther behind us, but she won with speed to spare and I think next year is going to be a huge year for this filly.”

Ward said he is likely to put Happy Like a Fool away for the rest of the year and point her to a 3-year-old campaign of one-turn races.