Runhappy breezes a mile with Gary Stevens aboard

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Runhappy was sent through his first breeze Wednesday here since finishing fourth as a heavy favorite in the Oct. 1 Ack Ack at Churchill, his first start in more than nine months. Runhappy, last year’s sprint champion, went a mile in 1:38.80.

Gary Stevens, who will ride the 4-year-old colt in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, was flown in from California to be aboard for the work.

“The trip was worth it,” said Stevens.

Juveniles headed for stakes

A number of 2-year-olds put in big performances during opening weekend of the Keeneland meet that will result in starts on the Oct. 30 Stars of Tomorrow card at Churchill.

Speedmeister, a 4 1/2-length winner for owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse in his debut Sunday, goes next in the $70,000 Street Sense. The $650,000 purchase earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Lovely Bernadette, a first-level allowance winner (69 Beyer) for fillies on Sunday, will run against males in the new $300,000 Spendthrift Stallion Stakes, said trainer Jimmy DiVito.

Sailor’s Valentine, a sharp debut winner (72 Beyer) on Saturday, could go in the $70,000 Rags to Riches or a first-level allowance, said trainer Eddie Kenneally.

Valadorna was so dominant in winning a two-turn maiden race (75 Beyer) in her second career start Friday that Casse will try to get her into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

◗ Frammento, who competed in many of the major 3-year-old races of 2015, will return from a layoff of more than a year as a first-time gelding in the seventh race Friday, a first-level allowance at seven furlongs.

“After the Travers, we gave him a long layoff,” said trainer Nick Zito. “Then when we brought him back, he had some minor things and a foot issue, but he is good now.”

◗ Gennadi Dorochenko is back in town. The Russian-born trainer will have his first starter of the meet when Shesthewinner goes postward as a longshot in the first race Friday. The well-traveled Dorochenko had raced exclusively in south Florida since late April before he recently took out nine stalls at Keeneland.

◗ Friday is College Scholarship Day, with 10 $1,000 scholarships to be awarded during the card. Keeneland and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association have split the cost of nearly $300,000 in scholarships since the promotion began in 2002.