On Saturday at Santa Anita, So Happy secured victory in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes by two lengths. The 60-year-old Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith guided So Happy over seven furlongs in 1:21.12, with the horse earning payouts of $7.80, $2.60, and $2.20.
Smith expressed satisfaction with So Happy’s performance over the seven-eighths distance, saying it was a strong indicator the horse could handle longer races, and he was very pleased with how the horse managed the challenge. So Happy had previously won his debut race at Del Mar on November 22, where he stayed just behind the leaders as a 38-1 underdog. This time, he took the lead inside the final furlong and held off Buetan, a well-liked competitor with one win and two losses.
Mark Glatt, So Happy’s trainer, praised the horse’s solid effort in the first race. Buetan, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, placed second and returned $2.10 for both win and place bets. Acknowledgemeplz finished third, 2 1/4 lengths behind, with a payout of $2.80. Thirsty Rebel and Greenwich Village rounded out the top five.
So Happy, a son of Run Happy, was bought for $150,000. Glatt noted that they were very fond of the horse, explaining that following a demanding first race—where So Happy had to travel to Del Mar—the horse showed some quirks during morning workouts and was trained with blinkers daily to help stay focused. Glatt believes that gaining race experience was important for him.
With a perfect 2-for-2 record, So Happy is anticipated to compete next in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
In another highlight, Explorer claimed the $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes by an impressive five and a quarter lengths, strengthening Baffert’s prospects for the Kentucky Oaks in May. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Explorer surged from the back of the field among 3-year-old fillies and finished the seven-furlong race in 1:22.05.
La Wally came in second, followed by Levela, who finished third by 1 1/4 lengths. Himika, another Baffert trainee who led early, ended up fourth. Explorer paid $2.10 for both win and place bets, while La Wally’s place payout was $2.60. The small field size meant no show wagers were available.
Explorer had just secured second place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar in October. She boasts three wins in five starts and has accumulated $625,000 in earnings.
Fan Take:
This weekend’s performances from So Happy and Explorer highlight the emergence of exciting new talents in the sport, signaling thrilling prospects for upcoming marquee races like the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Oaks. For horse racing fans, these wins reinforce the excitement and unpredictability that keeps the sport vibrant and growing.
