So Happy surges in San Vicente Stakes; longer distance may be in future
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ARCADIA, Calif. - So Happy was the 38-1 surprise winner of a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 22.
So Happy’s win in race No. 2 of his career - Saturday’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita - was easier to predict, and left Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith eager to see what the colt can do at longer distances.
So Happy ($7.80) closed from third of five to win the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes by two lengths as the second choice. The style of the win left Smith impressed.
“I like the way he took a little kickback,” Smith said. “I wanted to take him off of it. Once I got him to settle. I was able to tip out and I thought, 'That’s a good sign.'
“That made me more confident that they’d have to outrun him to beat him.”
So Happy, who is trained by Mark Glatt, was timed in 1:21.12 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96. He finished clear of 1-2 favorite Beutane, who had not raced since a second-place finish by 8 1/2 lengths to Ted Noffey in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 1.
Ted Noffey later won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Oct. 31 and is widely expected to be named champion 2-year-old male of 2025 at the Eclipse Awards in Florida later this month.
Beutane, ridden by Juan Hernandez, closed from last of five to be closest to the front at the finish in the San Vicente.
“I thought he ran great coming off a layoff,” Hernandez said. “He gave me a good effort. He probably needed the race.”
Beutane finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of 7-1 Acknowledgemeplz, who set an early pace of 22.03 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 43.56 for a half-mile. Thirsty Rebel finished fourth, followed by Greenwich Village.
So Happy, purchased for $150,000 at the Ocala Breeders Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in Florida last March, races for Norman Stables and Hans and Ana Maron’s Saints or Sinners stable.
So Happy closed from fourth to win the maiden race in November, and showed a similar style on Saturday.
“We liked him when he paid” $78, Smith said. “He’s by Runhappy, so you wonder if there are distance limitations. He doesn’t seem to have any.
“He acts like he wants two turns. He's naturally quick and doesn’t need the lead.”
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