Guanare became RUNHAPPY’s 14th stakes winner on Saturday in only his fourth start with a victory in the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Laurel Park.
Off slowly in the seven-furlong race on the dirt, he was happy to track the leaders early on as he raced three wide in the mud. Just over halfway through the race, he made his move on them and entered the duel they’d been engaged in for much of the running.
By the quarter pole, he had wrestled away command and continued to battle on until the final furlong when he started to seriously edge away. The two other runners faded from there with Guanare wining by an easy 2 ¾ lengths.
Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. for P and G Stable, this is the third straight victory for the Michael Waresk-bred.
He is out of the stakes placed Cast In Silver, a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Palace Malice, Grade 1 winner Justin Palace, and Grade 2 winner Iron Barows.
RUNHAPPY is the sire of two winners from two to race out of City Zip mares with the stallion going five-for-five with Carson City granddaughters overall.
RUNHAPPY’s 14 stakes winners is fifth best of all fifth crop sires with the stallion responsible for 23 stakes performers, led by four Grade 1 horses.