NEWS
Dutrow ‘Acting Happy’ after Black-Eyed Susan upset
Posted: Friday, May 14, 2010 7:19 PM
ACTING HAPPY
PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times
To view the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, click here.
by Ed DeRosa
The depth of the three-year-old filly division was on display at Pimlico Race Course on Friday, when Acting Happy, who finished behind unbeaten Streaker and impressive allowance winner Christine Daae in races earlier this year, won the $175,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2).
“The two fillies who beat her have all the talent in the world, but they’re not as nice as my filly,” said Richard Dutrow Jr., who trains the Empire Maker filly for owner Jay Em Ess Stable. “We’re circling the Alabama [Stakes (G1) on August 21 at Saratoga Race Course] right on top of our calendar, and now we’ll see how to get her there.”
Speed had been playing well on the Pimlico main track throughout the day, and Dutrow told jockey Jose Lezcano to get the filly into the race early. The rider obliged by pressing longshot Khancord Kid through fractions of :23.78, :47.54, and 1:11.43 before taking the lead entering the stretch. Acting Happy was never threatened in the stretch en route to a 1½-length victory at odds of 10.10-to-1.
No Such Word closed from next to last in the nine-horse field to finish second. Tidal Pool tracked the pace throughout but never kicked on before finishing third as the 2-to-1 favorite.
“The pace was probably a little too slow for us,” said Cindy Jones, who trains No Such Word for owner-breeder Brereton Jones.
Acting Happy won her career debut on January 24 at Gulfstream Park going 1 1/8 miles under Lezcano. Dutrow said he knew she was nice from the time she arrived, but he had a hard time getting her to the races.
“I had to send her to [Larry Bramlage, D.V.M, at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital] three times because she was not right behind,” Dutrow said. “She just needed time. When they’re not right behind, you just want to give them time, and it worked out.”
The race was marred when Diva Delite and Seeking the Title clipped heels and unseated their riders, Julian Leparoux and Kent Desormeaux, respectively. Both the horses and jockeys were okay following the race, although there was an anxious moment when Seeking the Title galloped the length of the stretch on the outside rail before an outrider collared her just past the finish line near a gasping clubhouse crowd.
The win nearly tripled Acting Happy’s lifetime bankroll to $141,510. Bred in Kentucky by Samantha Siegel and Mace Siegel, Acting Happy improved to two wins and two seconds from four career starts. She is one of three winners from four starters out of multiple Grade 1 winner I Ain’t Bluffing, by Pine Bluff.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times
