It was another big winner for RUNHAPPY on Saturday when Maiden Special Weight winner Mr Sippi became his 17th victor of the year and closed out the Kentucky Derby card at Churchill Downs.
Racing over six furlongs under the lights, the Joe Sharp trainee was among one of the first out of the gate in a tightly packed field. He settled himself at the back of the leading group on the rail as others pressured the leader in front of him.
Moving closer under Irad Ortiz Jr. as they advanced to the turn, Mr Sippi took full advantage of a hole the pacesetter opened to slide up the inside and have the lead by the time they entered the final quarter. In another furlong, Mr Sippi had open lengths on the field and continued to pull away for a 5 ½ length victory with the third placed horse nearly 10 lengths behind the winner.
Trained by Joe Sharp, Mr Sippi was a $210,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by racing owners Barry and Joni Butzow. The colt’s victory gave him three top two finishes in four starts for nearly $90,000 in earnings.
Bred by Paget Bloodstock, Mr Sippi is out of Mississippi Queen. That mare is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Asi Siempre, who is also the dam of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Outstrip. A producing family, another one of Mississippi Queen’s half-sisters is the dam of stakes winner Dubase and stakes-placed Avante.
RUNHAPPY’S 17 2021 winners is sixth best among all second crop sires, putting him above Nyquist, Outwork, Laoban, ect.