So Happy leads Kentucky Derby prospects in Monday workouts

So Happy, the undefeated Grade 2 winner, returned to the work tab with a four-furlong breeze in 48.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday. The colt headlines a trio of Kentucky Derby futures contenders who trained that morning, including Plutarch and Tripp's Promise. These workouts mark the first activity for So Happy since his San Vicente victory on January 10.

So Happy, a son of Runhappy trained by Mark Glatt, impressed in his first workout since capturing the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes by two lengths over Buetane at Santa Anita on January 10. The seven-furlong stakes debut followed a debut victory by three-quarter lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar on November 22, where he overcame 38-1 odds. His Derby futures odds shortened from 75-1 to 60-1 at Caesars in Nevada last week, reflecting growing confidence in the two-for-two colt.

Joining So Happy at Santa Anita was Plutarch, a son of Into Mischief under trainer Bob Baffert. The colt covered six furlongs in 1:12.4, the fastest time among seven works at the distance. This followed a four-furlong breeze seven days prior. Plutarch's most recent race was a maiden win going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Del Mar on November 30.

At Gulfstream Park, Tripp's Promise, by Promises Fulfilled and trained by Dale Romans, worked four furlongs in 47.5 seconds, the fifth fastest of 30 at the distance. This came eight days after his previous four-furlong move. The colt finished sixth in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on January 3.

These sessions provide early indicators of form as the road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby intensifies, with trainers monitoring progress toward key preps.

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Dramatic photo-finish illustration of Potente edging Robusta to win the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
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Potente edges Robusta in 2026 San Felipe Stakes; So Happy, Secured Freedom eye Santa Anita Derby

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Potente rallied late to win the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes by a head over 67-1 longshot Robusta at Santa Anita Park, earning 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Third-place So Happy and fourth-place Secured Freedom drew praise from their connections, who reported the horses in good shape and plan to enter them in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

Grade 1 winner Brant returns in the San Felipe Stakes, a key Kentucky Derby prep race at Santa Anita Park. Unbeaten So Happy faces his first two-turn test in the Grade 2 event for 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles. The race offers qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby.

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Two grade 1-winning turf horses topped the work tab on Monday morning. King of Gosford and Troubleshooting, both successful in top-level races last year, returned to training with solid drills. Their efforts highlighted a group of graded-stakes winners across various tracks.

Plutarch edged out Intrepido by three-quarters of a length to win the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, securing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his eighth consecutive victory in the race for 3-year-olds. Ridden by Florent Geroux, the colt completed the one-mile distance in 1:37.02 for his first stakes win on dirt. The result ties Plutarch with Intrepido for third on the Kentucky Derby qualifying leaderboard with 23 points each.

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Trainer Bob Baffert has confirmed that his horse Plutarch is out of the running for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The colt, who held the eighth position on the leaderboard, will not compete in the race. Baffert mentioned the Belmont Stakes as a potential next target.

Last week saw 34 maiden horses achieve Horse Racing Nation speed figures of 100 or higher, highlighting promising talents in racing. Three-year-old filly Tam Tam led with a 129 figure at Gulfstream Park, while two colts tied for second at 121. Winners competed across dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces at tracks throughout the country.

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Trainer Brad Cox has nominated 22 colts for the 2026 Triple Crown series, placing him fourth among trainers behind Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert and Chad Brown. The group includes high-priced yearlings and homebreds from operations like Juddmonte and WinStar Farm, with several sired by his 2021 champion Essential Quality. These nominees span runners with Derby points, stakes contenders and unraced prospects.

 

 

 

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