It was a milestone moment for RUNHAPPY on Wednesday when his son Run This City not only became his ninth juvenile winner of the year but also his first Japanese winner.
Racing over seven furlongs on the dirt, Run This City was eager to race and restrained to race on the hip of the leader with the pair having over five lengths on the rest of the field.
As they entered the final quarter, it was Run This City’s time to shine. He galloped away with ease, winning by over 20 lengths in the end.
The 2-year-old colt made his debut in the colors of Motonori Okai and istrained by Junpei Morishita.
Bred by Betz, Magers, CoCo Equine, Kidder, J. Betz, and Davidson in Kentucky, the colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Man Of Promise and two other winners from four siblings to race. Involved is a half-sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Skip to the Stone and multiple stakes winner My Heavenly Sign among others.
The colt’s fourth dam is the Grade 1 winner The Very One.
RUNHAPPY’s juvenile crop has yielded three stakes winners, the third most of any North American stallion this year. His four 2021 2-year-old stakes performers overall also tops all second crop sires this year.