Keeneland Sales Graduates Smile Happy, Hidden Connection Top Fields for Saturday’s Classic Preps

Keeneland sales graduates and graded stakes winners Smile Happy and Hidden Connection make their 3-year-old debuts as respective favorites in the Risen Star (G2) Presented by Lamarque Ford and Rachel Alexandra (G2), both classic preps on Saturday at Fair Grounds. 

Smile Happy, easy winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall at Churchill Downs, leads a field that includes Zandon, second by a nose in the Remsen (G2), and Epicenter, who closed 2021 with a win in the Gun Runner and recently finished second in the Lecomte (G3), both at Fair Grounds. All will be vying for points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1). 

Hidden Connection, runaway winner of the Pocahontas (G3) last year at Churchill Downs, seeks to enhance her position on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) leaderboard with a win in the Rachel Alexandra. Other prominent contenders are California Angel, winner of the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland last fall, and Awake At Midnyte and Miss Mattie B, second and third, respectively, in the Santa Ynez (G2). 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19

RISEN STAR S. (G2) PRESENTED BY LAMARQUE FORD, Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 Miles, 3YOs

RUSSIAN TANK, 3YO colt by Tourist – I Think So ($20,000, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent; Buyer- Kazakov) O- Glockenburg; B- WinStar (KY); T- Gennadi Dorochenko

TAWNY PORT, 3YO colt by Pioneerof the Nile – Livi Makenzie ($430,000, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Machmer Hall Sales, agent; Buyer- John Fort) O- Peachtree Stable; B- WinStar Farm (KY); T- Brad Cox

EPICENTER, 3YO colt by Not This Time – Silent Candy ($260,000, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Bettersworth Westwind Farms; Buyer- Winchell Thoroughbreds) O- Winchell Thoroughbreds; B- Westwind Farms (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

PIONEER OF MEDINA, 3YO colt by Pioneerof the Nile – Lights of Medina ($485,000 RNA, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent) O- Sumaya US Stable; B- International Equities Holding (KY); T- Todd Pletcher

ZANDON, 3YO colt by Upstart – Memories Prevail ($170,000, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Brereton Jones/Airdrie Stud, agent; Buyer- Mike Ryan, agent) O- Jeff Drown; B- Brereton Jones (KY); T- Chad Brown

SMILE HAPPY, 3YO colt by Runhappy – Pleasant Smile ($175,000, 2019 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Moreau Bloodstock Int’l; Buyer- Cooper Bloodstock) O- Lucky Seven Stable; B- Moreau Bloodstock Int’l & White Bloodstock (KY); T- Kenny McPeek

RACHEL ALEXANDRA S. (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 Miles, 3YO Fillies

MISS MATTIE B, 3YO filly by Tonalist – Traffic Blimp ($10,000, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent; Buyer- Westlake Racing Stable) O- Westlake Racing Stable; B- R. S. Evans (KY); T- Robert Hess Jr. 

CANDY RAID, 3YO filly by Candy Ride (ARG) – Lady Samuri ($35,000, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Denali Stud, agent; Buyer- Don’t Tell My Wife Stables) O- Don’t Tell My Wife Stables & Keith Desormeaux; B- Stonestreet (KY); T- Keith Desormeaux

TURNERLOOSE, 3YO filly Nyquist – Goaltending ($32,000 RNA, 2019 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- James Keogh, agent; $50,000, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent, Buyer- Ike & Dawn Thrash) O- Ike & Dawn Thrash; B- William Humphries; T- Brad Cox

AWAKE AT MIDNYTE, 3YO filly by Nyquist – Midnight Union ($85,000 RNA, 2019 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Mulholland Farm, agent;) O- Reddam Racing; B- Forty Oaks (KY); T- Doug O’Neill

CALIFORNIA ANGEL, 3YO filly by California Chrome – Sea Mona ($5,000, 2019 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Paramount Sales, agent; Buyer- 2 Stars) O- Chris Walsh; B- Irish National Stud (KY); T- George Leonard III

HIDDEN CONNECTION, 3YO filly by Connect – C J’s Gal ($49,000 RNA, 2019 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Select Sales, agent; $40,000 RNA to Sale, 2020 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Machmer Hall Sales, agent, Buyer- Mike Pender) O- Hidden Brook Farm & Black Type Thoroughbreds; B- St. Simon Place (KY); T- Bret Calhoun

MINESHAFT S. (G3), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 Miles, 4YOs & Up

SILVER PROSPECTOR, 5YO horse by Declaration of War – Tap Softly ($50,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent; Buyer- Eisaman Equine) O- Ed & Susie Orr; B- Sandra & Hargus Sexton & Silver Fern Farm (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

OLYMPIAD, 4YO colt by Speightstown – Tokyo Time ($700,000, 2019 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Gainesway, agent; Buyer- Solis/Litt) O- Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable & LNJ Foxwoods; B- Emory Hamilton (KY); T- Bill Mott

MILES D, 4YO colt by Curlin – Sound the Trumpets ($470,000, 2019 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Denali Stud, agent; Buyer- White Burch Farm) O- Peter Brant & Robert LaPenta; B- Rover Bend Farm (KY); T- Chad Brown

MIDCOURT, 7YO gelding by Midnight Lute – Mayo On the Side ($450,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Four Star Sales, agent; Buyer- Mayberry Farm) O- C R K Stable; B- Dixiana Farms (KY); T- John Shirreffs

HAPPY AMERICAN, 4YO colt by Runhappy – Queen of America ($385,000, 2019 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Claiborne Farm, agent; Buyer- Lothenbach Stables) O- Lothenbach Stables; B- Claiborne Farm (KY); T- Neil Pessin

UNTREATED, 4YO colt by Nyquist – Fully Living ($550,000, 2019 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Ashview Farm, agent, Buyer- Bradley Thoroughbreds, agent; $300,000, 2021 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent, Buyer- Steven W. Young, agent) O- Team Valor International; B- Ashview Farm & Old Oak Farm (KY); T- Todd Pletcher

FAIR GROUNDS S. (G3), Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 Miles (T), 4YOs & Up

MONARCHS GLEN (GB), 8YO gelding by Frankel (GB) – Mirabilis ($95,000, 2019 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Mill Ridge Sales, agent; Buyer- Corms Racing) O- Michael Hui & WSS Racing; B- Juddmonte Farms (GB); T- Mike Maker 

HALO AGAIN, 5YO horse by Speightstown – Halo’s Verse ($600,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Anderson Farms, agent; Buyer- Winchell Thoroughbreds) O- Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing; B- Anderson Farms (ON); T- Steve Asmussen

POINT ME BY, 4YO colt by Point of Entry – Viva Allegiance ($30,000, 2019 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent; Buyer- Homewrecker Racing) O- Homewrecker Racing; B- Winchester Farm (KY); T- Eddie Kenneally

LARGENT, 6YO gelding by Into Mischief – Life in Seattle ($460,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent; Buyer- Eclipse Thoroughbreds & Twin Creeks Racing) O- Twin Creeks Racing & Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B- Lazy Lane Farms (VA); T- Todd Pletcher

TWO EMMYS, 6YO gelding by English Channel – Miss Emmy ($4,500, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Vinery Sales, agent; Buyer- Hugh Robertson & Wolfe Racing) O- Hugh Robertson & Wolfe Racing; B- Tottenwood Thoroughbreds (KY); T- Hugh Robertson

BARBARA FRITCHIE S. (G3), Laurel, 7 Furlongs, 4YOs & Up, F&M

GLASS CEILING, 5YO mare by Constitution – Fighter Wing ($47,000 RNA, 2018 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent) O- Charlton Baker & Michael Foster; B- Twin Creeks Farm (KY); T- Charlton Baker 

REGAL RETORT, 6YO mare by Jimmy Creed – Royal Sweetpea ($3,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent) O- David Charlton, MarchFore Thoroughbreds & Bradley Thoroughbreds; B- Robert Landry & Glenna Laureano (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

PRODIGY DOLL, 4YO filly by Shanghai Bobby – Hi Lili ($24,000 RNA, 2018 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Ballysax Bloodstock, agent) O- HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing; B- Tolo Thoroughbreds & Michael Spirito (KY); T- Phil Schoenthal

BOLD CONFECTION, 4YO filly by Candy Ride (ARG) – Bold Union ($185,000, 2018 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent, Buyer- Louisiana Leasing; $275,000 RNA, 2019 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Wynnstay Sales, agent) O- Ben Rollins; B- Twin Hopes Farm (KY); T- John Servis

GENERAL GEORGE S. (G3), Laurel, 7 Furlongs, 4YOs & Up

WAR TOCSIN, 6YO gelding by Violence – Being Anna ($14,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hidden Brook, agent) O- Trin-Brook Stables; B- Hare Forest Farm (KY); T- Uriah St. Lewis 

SHACKQUEENKING, 4YO gelding by Shackleford – Jurys Out ($20,000, 2019 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Ledgelands, agent; Buyer- Gary Capuano, agent) O- Pocket 3’s Racing; B- Ledgelands & Andrew Ritter (KY); T- Gary Capuano

SIR ALFRED JAMES, 6YO gelding by Munnings – Super Phoebe ($17,000 RNA, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Pope McLean, agent; $27,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Pope McLean, agent) O- Built Wright Stables; B- Mt. Joy Stables, Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T- Norman Cash

THREES OVER DEUCES, 7YO gelding by Flat Out – Cruelmore ($30,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Select Sales, agent; Buyer- Gary Capuano, agent) O- Pocket 3’s Racing; B- Machmer Hall & Montese (KY); T- Gary Capuano

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20

SAN SIMEON S. (G3), Santa Anita, 6½ Furlongs (T), 4YOs & Up

CHAOS THEORY, 7YO gelding by Curlin – Chaotic Cat ($260,000, 2015 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Bluewater Sales, agent, Buyer- Stonestreet Stables; $47,000 RNA, 2018 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- James Keogh, agent) O- David Bernsen, Doug Gans, Gary Jacobs, Larry Katz,  Jeffrey Lambert, Peter Underhill & Todd Cady B- Bluewater Sales & Mike Carpenter (KY); T- Bob Hess Jr. 

BEER CAN MAN, 4YO colt by Can the Man – Cheesecake ($9,500 RNA, 2018 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent) O- Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables & Sterling Stables; B- Ron Patterson (KY); T- Philip d’Amato