"Horse of a Lifetime" Happy Soul Seeks First Graded Win in Central Bank Ashland

Gayla Rankin was at her Texas home in 2020 viewing videos and photos of horses entered in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale when she zeroed in on a daughter of champion sprinter Runhappy.

“She was an absolute standout to me,” she said of the youngster now known as Happy Soul, who drew post position six in the field of eight fillies entered in Friday’s $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1).

Rankin’s consultant, Case Clay, agreed with her assessment and purchased the filly on her behalf for $50,000. Seven months later, Happy Soul proved Rankin correct by finishing second in her career debut at Keeneland’s Spring Meet for trainer Wesley Ward. The winner of that race was Happy Soul’s stablemate, the gelding Nakatomi, who in his next start competed at Royal Ascot in England in the Norfolk (G2).

When Happy Soul became an impressive next-out winner at Belmont Park in May, Rankin received numerous attractive prices from potential buyers.

“Wesley told me then that she’s a horse of a lifetime and not to sell,” she said. “I’m trying to make this passion a business, and the money that was offered was very good. But I trusted my trainer, and it has worked out.”

Happy Soul proved Ward’s assessment correct just three weeks later when she captured the Astoria at Belmont Park. She returned to action by stretching her winning streak to three when she sailed to victory in the Dixie Belle at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 19 in her only start thus far in 2022.

Rankin grew up riding and secured a job with racehorses at the now-shuttered Trinity Meadows about 20 miles west of Fort Worth while still a teenager. When she was 19, she drove to Keeneland for the 2004 November Breeding Stock Sale to purchase weanlings for resale with a $50,000 budget from her parents. When one of their purchases – a Dynaformer filly – did not meet her reserve price, she opted to race her. 

Named Perfectforthepart, the filly won twice at Louisiana Downs and became a broodmare for Rankin. Her offspring include the Grade 1-winning Ward trainee Sunset Glow. 

“I hired Wesley because of how he campaigned Sunset Glow,” Rankin said. “He is a horseman and he is very good at what he does. He’s hands-on, always learning and willing to listen.”

Rankin will not be at Keeneland Friday to see her star filly. She opted to stay home in Millsap, Texas, with her 16-year-old dog Leeroy.

“He doesn’t like it when I leave,” she said.