Happy Like a Fool Turns Miss Preakness (G3) into a Laugher

Happy Like a Fool Turns Miss Preakness (G3) into a Laugher

Earns Second Graded-Stakes Victory in Fourth U.S. Start
 
BALTIMORE – Merriebelle Stable, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier’s Happy Like a Fool bounded to the lead at the start and splashed home an easy front-running winner of Saturday’s $150,000 Adena Springs Miss Preakness (G3) at legendary Pimlico Race Course.
 
The 33rd running of the six-furlong Miss Preakness for 3-year-old fillies marked the third win from four U.S. starts for Happy Like a Fool ($10.40) and second in a graded-stakes. She also captured the Matron (G3) in her stateside return last fall at Belmont Park.
 
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, riding for trainer Wesley Ward, sent Happy Like a Fool to the front from their rail post, leading through a quarter-mile in 23.06 seconds and a half in 46.13, tracked by previously undefeated Artistic Diva on her right flank. After going five furlongs in 57.90, Happy Like a Fool opened up once straightened for home and hit the wire 6 ½ lengths in front in 1:10.12 over a sloppy and sealed main track.
 
Artistic Diva stayed up for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of 30-1 long shot Buy Sell Hold. Bootsy’s Hadenough was fourth.
 
Happy Like a Fool debuted with a four-length win at Keeneland last April, then spent the summer in England where she ran twice, finishing second in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot and sixth in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (G2) at York prior to the Matron.
 
$150,000 Adena Springs Miss Preakness (G3) Quotes
 
Tyler Gaffalione (Winning Jockey, Happy Like a Fool) – “She broke really well. I just chased her out of there to get position. When I asked her at the top of the lane, she really responded. (Trainer) Wesley (Ward) did a good job of having her ready. It's pretty sloppy; it's not the worst thing and she could handle it. You have to pay attention to the [track] bias. It seems like it is changing every race. One race is speed, then another race they are coming off the pace. It's pretty fair – you just have to pay attention."
 
Javier Castellano (Jockey, Artistic Diva, 2nd) – “She had a perfect trip; we followed procedure. My horse kept her speed. We were head to head with the winner. At the quarter pole the winner took off and opened up. I just took care in second place. I believe my filly ran so good, just second best today."
 
Luis Saez (Jockey, Beaten favorite Good Move, 6th) – “She broke running, but when she felt that muck, she wasn’t really happy.”