Happyness a possible single for pick six bettors

Based on her U.S. debut last month at Aqueduct, it would not have been out of line had trainer Chad Brown opted to run Happyness in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park.

But Brown elected to go the more conservative route with the 4-year-old Britain-bred filly and instead has her well spotted in a $80,000, second-level allowance race Wednesday at Belmont.

For those chasing the $25,688 pick six carryover, Happyness is a potential single.

Happyness hadn’t run in a year when she came from off the pace to win a first-level allowance race by 3 1/4 lengths on April 9 at Aqueduct. She was hard held by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. before unleashing a good-looking stretch kick in the final furlong.

“It took a long time to get her to the races; she had a problem last summer at Saratoga when she was ready to run,” Brown said. “But it was worth the wait. She came back nice and sound and ran to her training.”

Despite the strong performance by Happyness, Brown said he was not in a hurry to throw her into stakes company. The Beaugay was run at the same 1 1/16 miles of her allowance win, but this race is run at 1 1/4 miles.

“It seems like a mile and a quarter would be no problem for her,” Brown said. “I think she’s got a good year ahead of her. She has not run much. Let’s give her another allowance race and see what she does there. If she does well, then she’ll earn her spot in a stakes race.”

Happyness, who breaks from post 4, will face five rivals, including Queen’s Parade, who finished second to Trophee in this same condition going 1 3/8 miles on April 20, and Promotional, who won an allowance race at Aqueduct last fall before three unsuccessful stakes tries.

KEY CONTENDERS

Happyness, by Verglas

Last Beyer: 88

◗ Came off a yearlong layoff to win a first-level allowance race by a widening 3 1/4 lengths and was even taken in hand in the very late stages.

◗ Her lone win in France came against males at 1 1/8 miles on soft ground.

Queen’s Parade, by Giant’s Causeway

Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-91

◗ Has finished in the money in eight of her last nine starts, her last three with blinkers added.

◗ Both of her career victories have come at the 1 1/4-mile distance, including an allowance win here last May.

◗ Blew out three furlongs in 38.10 seconds Sunday over the Belmont inner turf course.

Promotional, by Artie Schiller

Last 3 Beyers: 87-80-86

◗ Drops back into allowance company after three consecutive stakes tries.

◗ Finished in a dead-heat for third in the Distaff Turf at Tampa on April 9, her first start off a nearly four-month layoff.

◗ Finished second in her lone previous race at Belmont, at today’s 1 1/4-mile distance.