RUNHAPPY’s son Rotknee won his second straight race on Friday when making his return to the races in an Allowance Optional Claiming event at Aqueduct.
The William Butler homebred was hustled out of the gate by Manny Franco to take the lead early on in the six furlong race and put a few lengths between him and the field. The 3-year-old had 2 ½ lengths in hand going into the stretch and it was only going to get better from there.
Rotknee continued to pull away under urging from his jockey and won by three lengths with the third placed horse 6 ½ lengths behind him.
Trained by Mike Maker, Rotknee is a half-brother to stakes-placed Lookin For Trouble and out of a winning Speightstown half-sister to multiple stakes winner A Freud Of Mama. The family also includes Grade 1 winner Haynesfield and Group 2 winner Ambassador among others.
A leading second crop sire last year, RUNHAPPY is again among the leading third crop sires this year.