Happy Happy Day Cuts Drought, Eyes Fresh Takeoff
- Diego Mitagstein
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
The 2023 Jockey Club champion scored in an allowance at Belterra Park, showing signs that the adaptation to U.S. turf is beginning to bear fruit
CINCINNATI, Ohio (Special for Turf Diario).- The hour-and-a-half van ride from his stall at The Thoroughbred Center to Belterra Park in Cincinnati proved well worth it for Happy Happy Day (Arg), who on Thursday notched his first victory since arriving in the U.S., scoring in his third local start.
After a disappointing debut and a slight improvement—both at Churchill Downs—trainer Paulo Lobo opted for a softer spot to help the Las Monjitas homebred rebuild confidence, and the response was exactly what he hoped for. Sent off as the heavy favorite, the son of Hi Happy and Champi Day (Harlan's Holiday) captured a $17,500 allowance going 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Under Albin Jimenez, Happy Happy Day settled near the back through the early stages, gradually gaining ground into the far turn. Sticking to the rail, he briefly appeared to be boxed in by pacesetter Driftwood (Courageous Cat), but a seam opened up and the dark bay shot through, edging away late to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:45.88. Splits for the race were :25.39, :50.74, and 1:14.89.
Bred by Haras Firmamento, Happy Happy Day was a G1 winner in his native Argentina, having taken down the 2023 renewal of the Gran Premio Jockey Club. That same season, he also finished third in the G1 Gran Premio 2000 Guineas.
His 2024 campaign had been underwhelming, highlighted by a single conditions win, a third in the Clásico Engrillado, and fourth-place efforts in both the G2 Clásico Forli and the Listed Clásico Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo.
Seeking a fresh start, Las Monjitas sent the colt stateside, and he appears to be on a slow but steady path back to form. While Thursday's win came against modest company, it may prove to be the confidence booster he needed as he aims to climb the class ladder in the coming months.
With Lobo carefully managing his conditioning and mindset, Happy Happy Day may yet rekindle the competitive fire he once showed on the big stage.
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