Happy Kentucky Derby week to all the horse racing enthusiasts out there.
As the weekend nears, that means we have many horse races to watch, with the Kentucky Oaks taking place on May 1, followed by the highly anticipated running of the 152nd Kentucky Derby. While you still have a few days to solidify who you will be cheering on through the final furlong this year, with a post time of 5:57 CT, it is time to start familiarizing yourself with some of this year’s contenders.
This year, a bay horse named So Happy has the chance to make history, being trainer Mark Glatt’s first Kentucky Derby horse in more than 30 years. This would not only be a monumental achievement for the second-generation horseman, but it would also be an incredible personal feat, as this little horse has brought so much joy to Glatt and his owner, 94-year-old Leverette S. Miller.
So Happy did not sell for millions during his first appearance, unlike some of the other contenders running that year, bringing in only $12,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale. The following fall, Sander Blanco purchased the late April-born colt for $20,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, which gave So Happy a little more promise, but still showed he did not have the fanfare some other promising horses showed.
However, So Happy’s story is bred on love, and this young horse has run with love, making big moves when it mattered most.
Leverette S. Miller bred the So Happy with the love of his life, Linda, and the two enjoyed a wonderful 48 years together before she sadly passed away due to cancer on March 7, 2021. In So Happy’s four starts, his only defeat came on the anniversary of Linda’s death.
If that does not give you chills, I don’t know what will. As a horse owner and lover myself, these are incredibly intelligent animals, and it’s almost like he felt the heaviness of this day, knowing the woman who helped raise him was missing, thus hindering his performance that day. But So Happy at a later date knew when to turn it on in another moment of sadness. Earlier this year, Mart Glatt lost his wife, and weeks later, So Happy ran in the Santa Anita Derby, taking home the top honor and punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby.
“He proved himself around two turns (and) improved tremendously. He was actually pulling away late in the race. You couldn’t say that distance was really a problem for him off of such a strong effort.”
AP News reported Mark Glatt said after the race.
The bay horse proved he had a heart of gold with that win, solidifying that he was bred on love, trained on love, and is creating new happy memories for his breeder and trainer.
So Happy might not be a favorite to win this year, but with a story like that, he’s one to keep your eye on. Plus, at 6-1 odds, a win is definitely not out of the realm of possibility. But according to Leverette S. Miller, no matter what happens on Saturday, So Happy has solidified himself in their family’s breeding operation and history.
“It’s hard to put into words, isn’t it? He’s so much a part of what we’ve been doing for so many years, me and my wife and my children.”
@churchilldowns So Happy’s story will make you so happy. And maybe a little sappy. #KentuckyDerby #SoHappy #ChurchillDowns #horsetok #horsegirl ♬ original sound – churchilldowns
Before you go, check out his run at the Santa Anita Derby.
