ELMONT, N.Y. – In an older male division that could use some reinforcements, the undefeated Happy Saver makes his 4-year-old debut Friday in a one-mile, multi-conditioned allowance race at Belmont Park. Happy Saver, a 4-year-old son of Super Saver, made all four of his starts last year, capped by a victory over Mystic Guide in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup here last Oct. 10. Mystic Guide has come back to win twice, including the Dubai World Cup in March. Following the Jockey Club Gold Cup, owners Alain and Gerard Wertheimer and trainer Todd Pletcher made the decision not to run Happy Saver in the Breeders’ Cup, so they put Happy Saver away for the remainder of 2020. :: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Belmont Park Clocker Report Happy Saver didn’t hit the work tab until April 9 at Palm Beach Downs, but has worked seven times leading to his return. “Once we decided not to go to the Breeders’ Cup, your choices became, do you keep him in training and point to the Pegasus?” Pletcher said of the $3 million race at Gulfstream in late January. “We felt like if we were going to give him a break we had to give him a meaningful enough break to freshen him up and have him ready for a summer/fall campaign this year, so that’s what we did.” While one mile isn’t Happy Saver’s optimum distance, he did win his debut here last June 20 going seven furlongs, covering that distance in 1:21.51. He then won twice at 1 1/8 miles around two turns before taking the Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles. Pletcher said that by starting Happy Saver now it opens up many options for his second start, including the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban on July 3 or the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on Aug. 7 with a potential start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, now run Sept. 4 at Saratoga, to follow before the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar. As far as noticeable changes in Happy Saver, Pletcher said: “He’s always been a strong, well-bodied, good-looking horse. He can be a little bit unassuming until you breeze him, then he’ll get your attention.” :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analysis, and expert picks. Friday, Happy Saver will face four rivals: Three Technique, a second-level allowance winner here on May 1; Top Seed, fourth in the Grade 3 Westchester; Locally Owned, a second-level allowance winner here on April 30; and Alkhaatam, who makes his first start for Pletcher after racing for Danny Peitz.