Runhappy tunes up for Malibu

Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Runhappy worked six furlongs in 1:11.80 at Santa Anita on Tuesday, preparing for his first start in the state in the $300,000 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26.

The Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs is part of the opening day of the track’s winter-spring meeting.

Runhappy arrived at Santa Anita earlier this month. Tuesday’s workout was Runhappy’s third since the BC Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

The workout was not without a touch of drama, according to trainer Laura Wohlers. Exercise rider Marcelino Torres paused the workout on the turn while assessing whether a loose horse would be a danger. Torres was able to ride Runhappy through the stretch when the loose horse ran off the track, Wohlers said.

“The rider took a hold of him on the turn,” Wohlers said. “It ended up okay. He worked fast enough. He got a lot out of it.”

Wohlers said Runhappy would have another significant work at Santa Anita next week and a lesser one on the week of the Malibu.

“It’s a new environment,” she said. “It’s good to be here to school early. We did a little paddock schooling this morning. He’ll settle in. In a few more days, he should be pretty solid.”

Owned by Jim McInvgale, Runhappy has won 6 of 7 starts and earned $1,301,300. He was trained by Maria Borell for five starts, all wins, from July through the Breeders’ Cup. In a highly publicized decision, Borell was dismissed as trainer on the day following the BC Sprint after a disagreement on training methods for Runhappy.

Wohlers, who trained Runhappy for his first two starts, is McIngvale’s racing manager and sister-in-law.