5/8/21
3 BEL Runhappy (GIII)
$150.000 4yo&Up 6f Dirt 123lbs +Penalties
We catch a big field of twelve set to go six furlongs in the 2021 Runhappy (GIII) here at Big Sandy on Saturday. There’s a lot of back class in this one which could make it a bit tougher to pick a winner, but I went to the far outside post and took Gifted Man as the top choice. His consistency is key to me, and even though he’s missed the board in the last three starts, I’ll give him a big chance with these. Let’s put Red Cup in the middle of things as well, coming off of that near miss at KEE in the Commonwealth (GIII). Another like that should put him in a good spot. There’s a bunch in here that you can give a shot… even the Green Card went four deep with it’s picks. This should be a fun one to watch.
Here’s The Field –
Purchased two back at the Mar 21 Auction for $24.010, then won at first asking for the big barn, taking down high end claimers at SA. Came back to be fifth in The Fleet Sprint (GIII) at OP while finishing a length back in that one. I’d give him a serious chance to get the win here.
Had a pair of wins and two runner up efforts last season, then kicked off the new year with a win at GP. The last pair of races have been fifth place finishes vs. stakes company, so he’s going to have to step it up a bit to be in the middle of this one.
He’s sold twice in the past three starts and make the first start for this barn. He was second in the Santana Mile at SA and had two off the board starts vs. graded company. At his best, he could run with just about anybody, he even won the 2019 BC Dirt Mile (GI), and although those days be gone, he still has some ability so give him a look.
Thirteen wins from forty-three starts, so he’s no stranger to the winner’s circle. He’s been running against softer so he will need his very best to get after it here. Still, he’s a consistent type and certainly shows speed. Give him a punchers chance.
Claimed two back when nabbed from a $35.000 claimer at GP, then won an Alw race in his first start for the new connections. tired to be eighth last out in The Fleet Sprint (GIII) so he’s gotta do better than that or it could be a long day.
Sold two back via private purchase and has some mixed results for the new barn, running fifth of seven in a Cal-bred stakes at SA then just missing in the Commonwealth (GIII) at KEE in his most recent, so it looks like turf is not the answer and he could be a tough horse to get past in this.
This one is fairly consistent, but he’s been a stranger to the winner’s circle, his last picture was taken back in Nov of ’19 when he won a OptAlw race at DMR. He always seems to be in the hunt, tired a bit to be fourth last out in the Fleet Sprint Hcp (GIII), but he needs to find that little extra something… is today the day?
Finally got back on the winning side of things last out going wire to wire vs NM-bred stakes horses out at SUN. He was a near-miss in both the Harlan (GIII) and Toboggan (GIII) so he’s seems to be in good shape and this could be a spot to get the job done.
Bit of a hit-and-miss type here, winning a high end Alw race on a wet CD surface, then beating one horse in the Malibu (GI) at SA to close out ’20. Kicked off ’21 with a stakes win at TAM, taking the Pelican, then ran last of twelve in the fore-mentioned Fleet Sprint Hcp (GIII) at OP. Who shows up today?
Another from that Fleet Sprint Hcp (GIII) where he finshed sixth. Won at FG prior to that taking down an OptAlw field at today’s distance. He’s kind of an all-or-nothing type, so I’m sure they like to see his “all” today.
Won the Fall Highweight Hcp (GIII) to close out his ’20 season, and started the year with a third in the Palos Verdes (GII) at SA, but the last two have been off-the-board finishes, so can he get back to the prior form? If so, he could be tough.
Took the Kennedy Road (GII) to close out his ’20 season, but he’s been off the board in three ’21 starts. Only beaten a length in each of those season starts and if he can overcome the post, this could be a sport for him to get the job done.
COZMAN 12 / 6 Willie’s Green Card 7 / 6 (4/1)
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
