So Happy puts away Potente in the stretch, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —So Happy and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith pulled away late from favorite Potente to win Saturday’s Grade I, $500,000 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park and punch their ticket to the Kentucky Derby.
Trained by Mark Glatt, So Happy (7-1) prevailed by 2 ¾ lengths over Potente (6-5), who was passed by the winner at the top of the stretch after racing on the pace. For Glatt, this was his first time winning the Santa Anita Derby. It was Smith’s fifth victory in Santa Anita’s marquee race for 3-year-olds.
So Happy, by 2015 champion sprinter Runhppy, is owned by Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. For 53-year-old Glatt, it was an especially emotional win. The victory came less than two months since his wife of 25 years, Dena, died of heart failure.
“It’s pretty hard to describe,” Glatt said from the winner’s circle. “We have had an overwhelming amount of support that’s helped us get through this very tough time. (Dena) got that horse there today. I’m just so thankful to the owners for giving me an opportunity. They are big contributors to my stable. They are not really owners, they have become lifelong friends. I just really appreciate their friendship. Since Dena’s passing, they have called me every night. They have flown out here. They have just been tremendous, along with a lot of other people. But they truly are friends and I couldn’t ask for it to happen to better people.”
Potente, trained by Bob Baffert, finished 6 ¾ lengths clear of 47-1 longshot Vitruvian Man in third. Intrepido (7-2) was fourth followed by Start the Ride (65-1). Cherokee Nation, the 3-1 second choice, bobbled at the start and was never a factor.
The top five finishers all earned qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10) for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2. So Happy would be Glatt’s first starter in the Kentucky Derby. Smith is a two-time winner of the 1 ¼-mile classic. As for Potente, Baffert said he would move on to the Kentucky Derby.
“He ran a good race,” Baffert said. “He’s getting fitter and getting more experience. He’ll be going to Kentucky. I’m really happy for Mark and Mike.”
Potente, winner of last month’s GII San Felipe, went to the lead and posted an opening quarter mile of 23.03 seconds while being pressed by Robusta (8-1) and jockey Emisael Jaramillo. So Happy also broke alertly and took up a stalking position while racing three wide. Down the backstretch, Robusta put a head in front of Potente through a half-mile split in 46.79 seconds. The pair continued to race side-by-side into the second turn with So Happy continuing to track.
Nearing the quarter pole, after six furlongs in 1:11.11, So Happy took aim at the two leaders. With Robusta beginning to weaken, So Happy ranged up to Potente near the eighth and edged away late to earn his second stakes win and third victory overall in four starts.
So Happy previously finished third behind Potente in the San Felipe when making his two-turn debut on March 7.
“He kept on going today,” Smith said. “I thought he would be better today plus we had a better post position. Today he really felt fit and ready to race. I can’t say enough of what a great and wonderful man Mark Glatt. His family and the owners are wonderful people. The Kentucky Derby is America’s race. Anyone in the world would want to be in that race.
“There’s more there in the tank for sure,” Smith added. “I’m looking forward to going to Kentucky again.”
So Happy was purchased for $150,000 at last year’s OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale. He was produced by So Cunning, a daughter of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame.
So Happy won his debut last November at Del Mar at odds of 38-1 in his only start as a 2-year-old. He returned on Jan. 10 at Santa Anita and won the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs prior to his effort in the San Felipe.
So Happy paid $16.60, $5.80 and $3.80. Potente returned $3.20 and $2.80. Vitruvian Man, ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Doug O’Neill, paid $7.60.
GRADE I, SANTA ANITA DERBY STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
MIKE SMITH, SO HAPPY, WINNER: “He kept on going today. I thought he would be better today plus we had a better post position. Today he really felt fit and ready to race. I can’t say enough of what a great and wonderful man Mark Glatt. His family and the owners are wonderful people. The Kentucky Derby is America’s race. Anyone in the world would want to be in that race.
“There’s more there in the tank for sure. I’m looking forward to going to Kentucky again.”
JUAN HERNANDEZ, POTENTE, SECOND: “Today he broke beautifully and was in front. He was getting pressure from So Happy, but it was hard for him to keep the pace. He gave me everything he had and was fighting all the way to the end—even when the horse came close to me, he was trying to come back and break. He’s a great horse and he ran a good second.”
TRAINER QUOTES
MARK GLATT, SO HAPPY, WINNER: “It’s pretty hard to describe. We have had an overwhelming amount of support that’s helped us get through this very tough time. (Dena) got that horse there today. I’m just so thankful to the owners for giving me an opportunity. They are big contributors to my stable. They are not really owners, they have become lifelong friends. I just really appreciate their friendship. Since Dena’s passing, they have called me every night, they have flown out here. They have just been tremendous, along with a lot of other people. But they truly are friends and I couldn’t ask for it to happen to better people.
“It’s the Santa Anita Derby, you have to get excited about that.”
BOB BAFFERT, POTENTE, SECOND: “ He ran a good race. He’s getting fitter and getting more experience. He’ll be going to Kentucky. I’m really happy for Mike Smith and Mark Glatt.”
BOB BAFFERT, CHEROKEE NATION, SIXTH: “He missed the break. That’s the problem with him. Once he missed the break, it was all over. “
NOTES: The winning owners are Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners.
