So Happy brought smiles (and tears) to a lot of faces after winning the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4. The victory came less than two months after the sudden death of trainer Mark Glatt’s wife Dena. The longtime Southern California-based trainer was emotional after winning his first Santa Anita Derby and having a horse in the Kentucky Derby for the first time.
"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.” Plus, 60-year-old Hall of Famer Mike Smith will be aboard again in the Derby, seeking a fourth win in his record-extending 29th Derby.
So Happy, bred in Kentucky by Leverett S. Miller, owns some fairly humble beginnings.Though he was bought by his current connections for $150,000 at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, he brought just $12,000 as a 2023 Keeneland November weanling and $20,000 as a Fasig-Tipton October yearling.
The son of champion Runhappy broke his maiden at first asking at Del Mar by three-quarters of a length at 6 ½ furlongs in late November, then won the 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2) by two lengths. After a slight hiccup to finish third in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) in his first two-turn try in March, he came back to draw off to a 2 ¾-length win in the Santa Anita Derby, defeating Bob Baffert-trained Potente.
So Happy has an Equibase rating of 112, tied for fourth [with Potente] on the Derby contenders list. He earned a 100 Equibase speed figure for his wins in the San Vicente Stakes and Santa Anita Derby.
Hopefully, he moves into stalking position heading into the first turn, and the experienced Smith can guide him through a smooth trip to have a chance at an upset.
With one exception, this colt has had a spectacular career, he has a tactical turn of foot that will help him in what we can all assume will be a traffic-filled race. With his best he fits, having stamina on his dam’s side to partner with his sire’s speedy influence. His humble connections virtually guarantee longer odds.
- This is trainer Mark Glatt’s first Santa Anita Derby win and also his first Kentucky Derby starter
- Hall of Famer Mike Smith at 60 years old is a two-time Derby winner (Giacomo in 2005, Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018) from 28 mounts, a record for the most mounts in Kentucky Derby history
- Smith was 19 when he rode in his first Derby in 1984 aboard Pine Circle, who finished sixth
- Robbie Norman (Norman Racing Stables) is a businessman from Thomasville, Alabama. He and his brother own a chain of grocery stores (Super Foods) across Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Norman owned Coal Battle, who won the Rebel Stakes (G2) in 2025 before finishing 11th in the Derby
- Husband-wife team Hans and Ana Maron (Saints or Sinners) co-founded Fairlife, a major U.S. milk/beverage company that became a billion-dollar success; their O Besos was fourth in the 2021 Kentucky Derby
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
