Nevin being patient as Happy Medium recovers from latest win
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Happy Medium is arguably the fastest horse on the grounds in New York, but his connections are in no hurry to plot out the gelding’s next race.
On Dec. 18, Happy Medium recorded his third consecutive blowout victory, taking a second-level allowance by seven lengths. He ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.88 and earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure, equaling the figure earned for his 9 1/4-length maiden win on Sept. 30 at Belmont Park.
While it would seem logical that Happy Medium, by Runhappy, is headed to a stakes race next, trainer Michelle Nevin on Friday was noncommittal on where and when that might be. The logical spots would seem to be the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan at Aqueduct on Jan. 29 or the $250,000 General George at Laurel Park on Feb. 19. Both races are at seven furlongs.
“They’re both possibilities,” said Nevin, who trains Happy Medium for Samantha Siegel. “I just felt he was a little light, so I just want to make sure I give him plenty of time and get his weight back up before we step out there again.”
In between his maiden win and his second-level allowance, Happy Medium won a first-level allowance by five lengths on Nov. 13. Since Happy Medium is a gelding and he is owned by Siegel, who is known for being patient, Nevin said she’s under no pressure when it comes to choosing spots for Happy Medium.
“Sam is one of those owners she likes to do the logical steps,” Nevin said. “It’s not like she’s going to reach for the stars straightaway. He’s a gelding, there’s nothing wrong with knocking out these allowance races for now. We can just inch along as we go and let him build his career up.”
While Nevin will wait to pick a spot for Happy Medium, she is pointing My Boy Tate to next Saturday’s $100,000 Say Florida Sandy Stakes for New York-breds. My Boy Tate, who will be 8 when the calendar turns to January, is a six-time stakes winner, including a victory in the 2018 Say Florida Sandy.
My Boy Tate is coming off a second-place finish behind Lobsta in the Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes series.
◗ A potential 3-year-old filly to watch on this circuit in 2022 is Rosebug, who won a seven-furlong maiden race Thursday by 3 3/4 lengths. A daughter of American Pharoah trained by Bill Mott, Rosebug earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure for the victory. She had lost her first three starts, two of those on turf.
If Mott keeps her in New York as opposed to shipping her to South Florida, she could be a candidate for spots like the Busanda on Jan. 23 for the Ruthless on Feb. 6.
◗ Maiden Beauty earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure for her 3 3/4-length victory in Thursday’s $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-bred females. It was her second victory in 12 days.
Trainer Robert Falcone Jr. said he hadn’t picked out a spot for the New York-bred daughter of Revolutionary. It is unlikely he would wheel her back in the Ladies Stakes on Jan. 16. The next spot for New York-breds is the $100,000 Biogio’s Rose going a mile on March 6.