ARCADIA, CA – The final round of Kentucky Derby prep action at Santa Anita Park delivered a breakout performance, as So Happy powered home late to win the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and stamp his ticket to Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith and trained by Mark Glatt, So Happy (7-1) ran down heavy favorite Potente (6-5) in the stretch before drawing clear to win by 2 ¾ lengths. The victory marked Glatt’s first Santa Anita Derby score and Smith’s fifth in the prestigious race.
Potente, trained by Bob Baffert, held second by 6 ¾ lengths over longshot Vitruvian Man (47-1), while Intrepido (7-2) and Start the Ride (65-1) completed the top five. Cherokee Nation, the 3-1 second choice, stumbled at the start and never fired.
The top five finishers earned Kentucky Derby qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10), with So Happy now firmly on track to give Glatt his first Derby starter.
Emotional Win for Glatt
The victory carried added significance for Glatt, coming less than two months after the passing of his wife, Dena.
“It’s pretty hard to describe,” Glatt said from the winner’s circle. “We have had an overwhelming amount of support that’s helped us get through this very tough time. (Dena) got that horse there today. I’m just so thankful to the owners for giving me an opportunity. They are big contributors to my stable. They are not really owners, they have become lifelong friends. I just really appreciate their friendship. Since Dena’s passing, they have called me every night. They have flown out here. They have just been tremendous, along with a lot of other people. But they truly are friends and I couldn’t ask for it to happen to better people.”
How the Race Unfolded
Potente set the pace early, clicking off an opening quarter in 23.03 while under pressure from Robusta. The two dueled through a half in 46.79 as So Happy tracked comfortably three-wide.
Turning for home, So Happy loomed large after six furlongs in 1:11.11. With Robusta fading, So Happy took dead aim at Potente, surged past nearing the eighth pole, and kicked clear late for his second stakes win and third victory in four starts.
Smith knew he had more horse underneath him this time.
“He kept on going today,” Smith said. “I thought he would be better today plus we had a better post position. Today he really felt fit and ready to race. I can’t say enough of what a great and wonderful man Mark Glatt. His family and the owners are wonderful people. The Kentucky Derby is America’s race. Anyone in the world would want to be in that race.
“There’s more there in the tank for sure,” Smith added. “I’m looking forward to going to Kentucky again.”
Derby Picture Takes Shape
So Happy now joins the growing list of serious Kentucky Derby contenders after improving off a third-place finish in the San Felipe behind Potente.
Meanwhile, Baffert confirmed Potente remains on track for Louisville:
“He ran a good race,” Baffert said. “He’s getting fitter and getting more experience. He’ll be going to Kentucky. I’m really happy for Mark and Mike.”
Jockey Juan Hernandez was proud of his runner-up effort:
“Today he broke beautifully and was in front. He was getting pressure from So Happy, but it was hard for him to keep the pace. He gave me everything he had and was fighting all the way to the end—even when the horse came close to me, he was trying to come back and break. He’s a great horse and he ran a good second.”
As for Cherokee Nation, it was another frustrating outing:
“He missed the break. That’s the problem with him. Once he missed the break, it was all over. “
By the Numbers
So Happy’s winning time was 1:49.01, which earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.
