Runhappy maintains course for Breeders' Cup Mile after loss

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Runhappy remains on target for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile following a disappointing fourth-place finish for the 2015 sprint champion in the Grade 3 Ack Ack on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Laura Wohlers said Monday from her Lexington, Ky., base that Runhappy exited the race in good fashion. The colt was making his 4-year-old debut after being away from the races since a victory in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita last Dec. 26.

“I think the Breeders’ Cup is still the goal,” said Wohlers, who trains Runhappy for her brother-in-law, Jim “Mattress Mac” McIngvale. “He hasn’t missed a grain and looks good.”

Runhappy was the 3-10 favorite in a field of six in the one-mile Ack Ack, which was run over a track rated wet-fast. He appeared to be relaxed on the lead under Edgar Prado, but once the field straightened away, he had no closing punch, as Tom’s Ready led a trio who swept past.

“I thought he ran a huge race off a long layoff and only got beat 2 1/2 lengths,” said Wohlers. “The track was wet and cuppy, and it was tiring for him.”

Prado said afterward: “I think he maybe needed the race, no, and it was a mile? He was sharp, though, and he rated nice for me, so that’s good.”

It was just the second defeat in the nine-race career of Runhappy, who has never raced on the anti-bleeding medication Lasix. Wohlers said the colt was scoped after the Ack Ack, and “there was no sign of anything at all, which is perfect as we don’t run on Lasix.”

Wohlers remains convinced that distance should be no problem for Runhappy and that the colt stands to benefit from the needed race in the Ack Ack. Last year, Runhappy raced beyond seven furlongs only once and was well beaten, but that came early in the year in a race with mitigating circumstances. Upon returning in July, the colt reeled off six straight wins and was voted champion sprinter.

McIngvale already has paid $1 million for one of 12 spots in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup, a 1 1/8-mile race to be run Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Meanwhile, Tom’s Ready also will proceed to the BC Dirt Mile, which is set for Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. The 3-year-old colt is owned by Tom Benson and is based at Churchill Downs with trainer Dallas Stewart.