Runhappy fitted with new bar shoes

Curtis Burns is one of the most sought-after farriers in both the Thoroughbred and show-horse worlds, so it was no surprise that owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale had Burns flown in recently to tend to Runhappy, his star colt whose 4-year-old campaign has been delayed by a foot bruise.

Burns said while visiting Keeneland last weekend that he is satisfied with the progress being made by Runhappy, whose current training regimen under Laura Wohlers consists merely of daily jogs at the Thoroughbred Center on the north side of Lexington.

“He was due for a shoe change anyway,” said Burns. “I put new bar shoes on both of his back feet, and everything is coming along real well. He’s going to be fine, I think.”

Burns said the right hind is the only affected foot for Runhappy, but that bar shoes typically are fitted on both feet (front or hind) for balance purposes.

Wohlers is pointing to the June 11 Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park as the preferred comeback spot for Runhappy, the 2015 Eclipse Award champion sprinter, but has conceded that this prolonged setback probably makes that an unattainable target.