Happy Saver

Happy Saver began his career on an impressive winning streak for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Gerard and Alain Wertheimer. He did not make his first start until June 20, 2020, at Belmont Park, and won a seven-furlong maiden race by an impressive 5 ½ lengths. He next raced at Saratoga in a 1 1/8-mile allowance, and again was dominant, stretching out to a route of ground with no difficulty whatsoever and romping by four lengths.

On Sept. 7, Happy Saver shipped to Laurel Park in Maryland and won the local prep for the Preakness Stakes, the 1 1/8-mile Federico Tesio Stakes, by a comfortable 1 ½ lengths as the 1-5 favorite. He skipped the third leg of the Triple Crown in favor of the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 10, and in that race he stepped up to graded stakes competition and also to face older horses and outfinished Mystic Guide and multiple graded stakes winner Tacitus for a breakthrough victory in a Grade 1 race. The Jockey Club Gold Cup victory earned Happy Saver an expenses-paid berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

Happy Saver did not compete in the Breeders' Cup that year, and did not return to the races until May 28, 2021. He won an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park that day by a length. Next out, he finished third in the Suburban Stakes at the same track on July 3. In his final two starts of the year, he finished second in both the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Clark Handicap.

Happy Saver came back in fine form for his 5-year-old season in 2022 but had trouble scoring a second top-level win as the ‘seconditis’ continued. He finished second in the first three starts of the year – behind Olympiad in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet, behind Flightline in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, and behind Life Is Good in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes.

Multiple stakes-placed winner Happy Week, by Distorted Humor, is the dam (mother) of Happy Saver.