HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Beyer Speed Figure of 104 that Happy Is a Choice earned for winning his last start leaps off the page in the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
And building a case for Happy Is a Choice in a competitive renewal of the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up gets even easier when his company line reveals the victory came over Skelly.
Skelly, who this year established himself as one of the country’s top sprinters, is a local kingpin whom Happy Is a Choice could not get within four lengths of last season at Oaklawn. But he was able to turn the tables by a neck last out in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society on Sept. 14 at Churchill.
“I was pretty excited to see how much he improved over the summer, from when Skelly beat him at Oaklawn,” said John Ortiz, who trains Happy Is a Choice. “It was a pretty great rematch of the two. He went in there 1,000 percent, and it was incredible to see him really lay it all out.”
The Ring the Bell is a first look at the local sprint division at the Oaklawn meet that was to have opened Friday, and with Skelly being freshened the field is well matched. Happy Is a Choice figures to go favored, but Gulfport will get good support for his win in the Bet On Sunshine on Nov. 2 at Churchill and Disco Ball is in exceptional form as he seeks to win his sixth straight race. Happy Is a Choice gives up recency to both, as he was given additional time after his win over Skelly.
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“He was actually entered in the Bet On Sunshine,” Ortiz said of Happy Is a Choice. “He just scraped himself on the way to the paddock and we had to scratch out of the last race. But he’s fine. He’s been ready to run for a while. He’s knocking down the door.”
Ramon Vazquez has the mount from the rail Saturday for Hooties Racing, WSS Racing, and 4G Racing.
“Normally, we like to see him sitting off the pace because he’s a very tactical horse, but coming out of the one hole, obviously, he’s going to have more pressure than he’s used to having,” Ortiz said. “But, like I said, he’s a very tactical horse, where I think he’ll either take himself to the front or he’ll be able to take back and just find himself in a pocket and wait for the right moment.”
Gulfport tracked the pace and was up for a neck win in the Bet On Sunshine, a race in which he went six furlongs in swift 1:08.97. For the effort, Gulfport earned a career-high Beyer of 95.
“We’re looking for him to add to his form,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains both Gulfport and Skelly. “He ran a beautiful race last time out, and we expect more of the same.”
Apprentice Erik Asmussen was aboard for the Bet On Sunshine and has the mount again Saturday, from post 6. Gulfport races for Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm.
Disco Ball began his streak in March at Santa Anita and in his most recent out won an allowance over millionaire Tejano Twist and Churchill stalwart Bango on Dec. 1. Sammy Camacho Jr. has the mount for trainer David Jacobson, who also has entered Grade 3 winner Durante.
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