Absent from racing since the July 1 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Ellis Park, when he delayed post time when he needed to be walked backward to approach the starting gate, Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy returns Jan. 20 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in the $175,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3). Trainer Kenny McPeek said he is “cautiously optimistic that we’ve got him back to where we want him.”
With a big 2023 seemingly on the horizon for Smile Happy after his impressive win in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs two months earlier, the narrative took a turn for the multiple graded stakes winner after his pre-race antics and pursuant fifth-place finish in the Stephen Foster under Corey Lanerie.
“He went through a period where he didn’t want to train, load in the gate; he was very difficult,” McPeek said. “The hardest thing is that he has a very strong will. He really likes training on the farm here in Florida and has had a really good series of works. We’ve been able to do some gate schooling. I run him with some trepidation because sometimes we don’t know how he’s going to act going to the gate. He’s very much an alpha and wants to do things his way.”
Beginning on Nov. 4, the son of Runhappy has posted eight drills at Silverleaf Hills Training Center, McPeek’s facility near Ocala, Fla. Physically, Smile Happy has been sound, but mentally, he has difficulty preparing for his races.
“Here at Silverleaf he can go out in the paddock, he can do a lot of different things,” McPeek said. “He has the same routine every day. As a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, he never did anything wrong. He started some of this really last spring when we were getting him ready. He won in an allowance race at Oaklawn and then came to Kentucky after that. Even at Oaklawn last winter he went through a stage where he didn’t want to train in the right direction. He’d go the wrong way but he wouldn’t go the right way. I think it has to do with that he needs the same routine, and our goal is to keep Smile Happy happy.”
Smile Happy @KennyMcPeek schooling in the paddock in advance of tomorrow’s start in the Louisiana Stakes presented by Relyne GI @Hagyard. He’s the 9-5 second choice with @b_hernandezjr up. pic.twitter.com/VCdcbfaarC
— Fair Grounds (@fairgroundsnola) January 19, 2024
With a 3-for-3 record at 1 1/16 miles, the 5-year-old horse has raced locally once before, finishing second to Epicenter in the 2022 Risen Star Stakes (G2).
“When he’s racing, I’m not sure exactly what sets him off, but you just have to be careful with him,” McPeek said. “In some cases he can be a very difficult horse to handle.”
Drawing post 2, Smile Happy will be reunited with his Alysheba pilot Brian Hernandez Jr. Smile Happy faces a talented field that includes 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Saudi Crown , who is using Saturday’s race as a prep for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in Saudi Arabia Feb. 24. The Brad Cox trainee ran 10th in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park in his last start.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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