It was another impressive juvenile winner for RUNHAPPY on Sunday at Saratoga when Rotknee led from start to finish in the six furlong race.
Taking over the lead only a few strides from the gate, the Mike Maker trainee quickly opened up multiple lengths on the field as the race favorite. Jose Ortiz asked him for more in the stretch as the colt’s lead started to dwindle and Rotknee responded to find another gear and win by 1 ½ lengths.
A homebred for William Butler, Rotknee is part of a group of winning juveniles for RUNHAPPY that includes impressive 11 ½ Astoria Stakes winner Happy Soul.
Rotknee is a half-brother to multiple stakes placed Lookin For Trouble out of a half-sister to stakes winner and Grade 3-placed A Freud of Mama. His granddam is a multiple stakes-placed half-sister to Grade 1 winner Haynesfield with Canadian Horse of the Year With Approval and Grade 1 winner Brilliant Speed also in the family.
Rotknee’s dam In Spite of Mama was bred to dual surface Grade 1 winner WAR OF WILL this year.