3rd-Belmont, $93,120, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 5-28, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:36.57, ft, 1 length.
HAPPY SAVER (c, 4, Super Saver–Happy Week {MSP, $228,674}, by Distorted Humor), off since annexing last October's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup going 10 local panels, picked up where he left off to stay unbeaten. A 5 1/2-length debut romper sprinting here last June, the Wertheimer homebred bested older allowance rivals by four lengths going nine furlongs at Saratoga a month later, good for a 96 Beyer Speed Figure and 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The chestnut continued his ascent with a victory in Pimlico's Federico Tesio S. Sept. 7, and bested fellow 'Rising Star' and then-sophomore Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) in the Oct. 10 JCGC. Mystic Guide subsequently dominated both the GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn in February and G1 Dubai World Cup in March. Pounded down to 2-5, Happy Saver was pushed out of the gate to stalk from third three deep. He challenged for command after six furlongs in 1:11.73, wore down Top Speed (Orb) by midstretch and glided home a length to the good. The winner has a 2-year-old half-sister by Candy Ride (Arg) and a yearling full sister. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-5-0-0, $326,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
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