It was a second straight stakes victory for RUNHAPPY’s Happy Is A Choice on Saturday with a victory in the Ring The Bell Stakes at Oaklawn.
The 4-year-old John Alexander Ortiz trainee wasn’t in a huge hurry in the six-furlong dirt race when breaking last. He was content to run near the back of the tightly packed field just over a length off the leader. Jockey Ramon Vazquez wasn’t in a rush to ask his mount for more, waiting until he was able to drop the gelding to the inside in upper stretch.
Going into the final furlong, Happy is a Choice grabbed control and had enough left to hold off the runner-up by a neck.
Racing for Hooties Racing. WSS Racing, and 4G Racing, Happy is a Choice has won six of his 12 races with five of his eight starts in 2024 being wins.
Happy is a Choice is one of five winners from five to race out of Fast Alexia with those winners also including FIRST SAMURAI’s 17-time winner Gran King of Kings. His third dam is the successful broodmare Oatsee, whose 11 winners include three-time Grade 1 winner Shackleford and Grade 1 winner Lady Joanne.
RUNHAPPY is the six of five stakes winners and 12 stakes performers in 2024. His five stakes winners ties him with horses such as Candy Ride, Bolt d’Oro, and English Channel this year.