Happy Like a Fool possible for La Brea

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Happy Like a Fool, who chased a hot pace in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint before fading to sixth at 61-1, could return in the Grade 1 La Brea on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, trainer Wesley Ward said. The seven-furlong La Brea is restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

Winner of the Grade 3 Matron last year at 2 and the Grade 3 Miss Preakness in May, Happy Like a Fool went through the Fasig-Tipton November sale the day after the Breeders’ Cup. She was auctioned for $1.45 million, with Blandford Bloodstock listed as the buyer of record.

According to Ward, Happy Like a Fool is now fully owned by Coolmore Stud. Through the Breeders’ Cup, she had raced for Merribelle Stables and the Coolmore principals of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and John Magnier.

Ward does not intend to race any of his four other Breeders’ Cup competitors over the rest of the year. Kirby’s Penny, 13th in the Filly and Mare Sprint, was sold for $525,000 at Keeneland this past week, and his trio of Juvenile Turf Sprint starters – Chelsea Cloisters (second), Stillwater Cove (10th), and Moonlight Romance (12th) – are being pointed to 2019 campaigns.

“They’re going to get about 60 days” off, he said.