Run To Daylight lived up to his name for RUNHAPPY on Saturday when the juvenile romped to a 5 ¾ length victory in the Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes.
Racing under the lights at Charles Town, there was nothing but clear track in front of Run To Daylight from the start of the 4 ½ furlong race as he took an immediate lead. The gelding had to face some pressure around the tight turn but he soon ended that runner’s hopes as he spurted away.
It was clear sailing down the stretch as Run To Daylight rolled to victory as the heavy favorite to take his record to two-from-two.
Trained by Jeff Runco for David Raim, the RUNHAPPY 2-year-old was bred by James Franklin Miller in West Virginia.
The runner is one of three winners from three to race out of Daylight’s Coming and is the second stakes winner for that mare alongside Twirling Owen. Daylight’s Coming is a half-sister to stakes winner Harlan’s Destiny and comes from the family of Grade 1-placed Erinsouthernman.
This family also includes Grade 1 winners Mizdirection and Hooh Why.
RUNHAPPY’s juveniles have been on fire this year with his nine 2-year-old winners in 2021 including three stakes winners – the most juvenile stakes winners of any second crop sire – winning by a combined 20 ¼ lengths.