By Brian DiDonato
Jay Em Ess Stable's Happy Medium (Runhappy) dominated for a third consecutive time Saturday to become the third 'TDN Rising Star' for the heating-up Runhappy. Third in his seven-panel unveiling here back in March, the $300,000 KEESEP yearling and May 20 foal resurfaced at Belmont Sept. 30 to air by 9 1/4 lengths and earn a gaudy 103 Beyer Speed Figure. He was flattered when three runners who finished behind him that day returned to graduate, and further validated his big win with a five-length allowance score in the local slop Nov. 13.
Off at 3-5 this time taking on older and far more seasoned rivals, the bay was scrubbed on from the rail to rush up and take command. He was able to clear off and settle a bit through splits of :22.14 and :45.05, and was all by his lonesome as he swung for home with a sizeable advantage. Wudda U Think Now (Fast Anna)–a four-time winner coming off a career-best 94 Beyer–gave chase in the lane, but Happy Medium strolled home in a race of his own to report under the wire a wrapped-up seven-length winner in 1:15.88.
Happy Medium's score comes on the heels of an impressive victory by Runhappy's juvenile 'Rising Star' Smile Happy in the Nov. 27 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. and a close second in the GI Cigar Mile H. here Dec. 4 by Grade II winner and MGISP 'Rising Star' Following Sea.
The winner is half to Mendip (Harlan's Holiday), MGSW-UAE, $895,961; Paddle Board (Harlan's Holiday), GSP, $183,774; Dig Deep (Candy Ride (ARG)), SW, $125,600; and a yearling filly by Practical Joke. His 20-year-old dam, who is a daughter of MGISW Chaposa Springs (Baldski), was bred to Mastery for 2022. Breeder Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stable was recently represented as co-breeder of both the GII Demoiselle S. and GII Remsen S. winners here.
4th-Aqueduct, $84,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 12-18, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:15.88, ft, 7 lengths.
HAPPY MEDIUM, g, 3, Runhappy
1st Dam: Well Spring, by Coronado's Quest
2nd Dam: Chaposa Springs, by Baldski
3rd Dam: La Chaposa (Per), by Ups (Per)
Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $150,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Jay Em Ess Stable; B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY); T-Michelle Nevin. *$300,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
