Kentucky-bred So Happy and jockey Mike Smith pulled away late from favorite Potente to win the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4 at Santa Anita Park. The win punched their ticket to the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Trained by Mark Glatt, So Happy prevailed by 2 ¾ lengths over Potente, who was passed by the winner late after racing on the pace. For Glatt, this was his first time winning the historic Santa Anita Derby. It was Smith’s fifth victory in Santa Anita’s marquee race for 3-year-olds.

So Happy, by 2015 champion sprinter Runhappy, is owned by Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. For Glatt, it was an especially emotional win. The victory came less than two months since his wife of 25 years, Dena, died of heart failure.

“It’s pretty hard to describe,” Glatt said from the winner’s circle. “We have had an overwhelming amount of support that’s helped us get through this very tough time. (Dena) got that horse there today. I’m just so thankful to the owners for giving me an opportunity. They are big contributors to my stable. They are not really (just) owners, they have become lifelong friends. I really appreciate their friendship. Since Dena’s passing, they have called me every night. They have flown out here. They have just been tremendous, along with a lot of other people. But they truly are friends and I couldn’t ask for it to happen to better people.”

Potente, trained by Bob Baffert, finished 6 ¾ lengths clear of longshot Vitruvian Man in third. The top five finishers all earned qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10) for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2. So Happy would be Glatt’s first starter in the Kentucky Derby. Smith is a two-time winner of the 1 ¼-mile classic. So Happy previously finished third behind Potente in the San Felipe when making his two-turn debut on March 7.

So Happy Kentucky Derby Bound Following Emotional Win

“He kept on going today,” Smith said. “I thought he would be better today plus we had a better post position. Today he really felt fit and ready to race. I can’t say enough of what a great and wonderful man Mark Glatt is. His family and the owners are wonderful people. The Kentucky Derby is America’s race. Anyone in the world would want to be in that race.

“There’s more there in the tank for sure,” Smith added. “I’m looking forward to going to Kentucky again.”

So Happy was purchased for $150,000 at last year’s OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale. He was produced from the Blame mare So Cunning. Leverett S. Miller bred So Happy in Kentucky.