Happy Is a Choice emerged from his win in the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes last weekend at Oaklawn Park in good order and has options for his next start, said trainer John Ortiz.
Happy Is a Choice won his second straight sprint stakes, following the Louisville Thoroughbred Society in September at Churchill Downs. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 104 for his Churchill win. Happy Is a Choice put up a 99 in the Ring the Bell.
“He came out of that race in great shape,” Ortiz said. “We would love to see the horse try something overseas, Saudi or Dubai. We still have to sit down and talk about it, make sure that’s a good plan for us. But then, you know, there’s nothing better than trying to rack up the wins at Oaklawn Park, too. So, we’re just going to have to pick.
“I think this is a horse that would do well overseas. He’s a very sensible horse, good to travel, very easy to train. But again, we’re here at Oaklawn and we know he’s got a track that he loves.”
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Ortiz, who runs a high-percentage operation, said the Ring the Bell was the first open-company stakes win at Oaklawn for his barn. Through the years, Ortiz has had a good deal of success in the Arkansas-bred stakes program.
Brightwork getting a winter break
Brightwork, a Grade 1 winner trained by Ortiz, is getting some downtime in Kentucky and later in the season will join the barn at Oaklawn.
“She’s over at WinStar getting a little R and R and then we’ll bring her back up,” Ortiz said. “There’s no point running her through the winter. Our main focus is a summer campaign and end up at the Breeders’ Cup next year.”
Brightwork last raced in October when third in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at six furlongs at Keeneland. Earlier this year, she won at that distance in the Grade 3 Prioress at Saratoga, the same track over which she won the Grade 1 Spinaway at 2.
Brightwork is owned by WSS Racing.
Quietside eyes Oaklawn
Quietside, who was the runner-up in this year’s Spinaway, is a candidate for the 3-year-old filly series at Oaklawn, said Ortiz.
She last raced Nov. 30 and was second in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs. The effort came following a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland.
Ortiz said Quietside is being pointed to the $300,000 Martha Washington on Jan. 25 at Oaklawn. The race carries points for the Kentucky Oaks.
Quietside is a daughter of Malibu Moon who races for Shortleaf Stable.
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