Look Happy Extends Trainer Nicolás Martín Ferro’s Stakes Streak

Following Sunday’s hat-trick and Tuesday’s victory, the Hi Happy filly handed the trainer the Handicap Resuello – Copa APHARA

Look Happy (right) took control from the 300-meter mark to the wire over Mi Negra Paula / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Horses trained by Nicolás Martín Ferro continue to dominate at the top level. Following a Sunday triple at Palermo and a Tuesday win at La Plata, the trainer’s hot streak rolled on Wednesday at San Isidro, where Look Happy captured the Handicap Resuello – Copa APHARA, contested over 1200 meters on a fast dirt track.

Carrying 54.5 kilos, the daughter of Hi Happy gained narrow revenge over Mi Negra Paula (Reflecting, 59), who had defeated her handily in the Clásico Etoile (L) under similar conditions—but with a key difference in the weights. That day, the spread was only half a kilo (56 vs. 55.5), whereas this time Look Happy enjoyed a much more favorable 4.5-kilo advantage, toting 54.5 against her rival’s 59.

Alta Key (Portal del Alto, 51.5) set a solid pace from the start, while the two fillies destined to fight it out waited patiently near the back. Once in the stretch, the frontrunner tried to dig in, but was soon collared by several pursuers. Splitting rivals down the center of the track, Look Happy and Mi Negra Paula moved in tandem, with the former always holding a slight edge that she preserved to the wire after striking the front at the 300-meter pole. The official margin was half a neck, with Legítima Blan (Equal Legítimo, 51) finishing third, another 3 1/2 lengths back, in a time of 1:10.76.

Kevin Banegas guided the winner, a homebred for Haras Santa Inés, out of Look Lovely (Orpen), who has now produced four individual winners from as many foals to race and hails from the notable Island Kitty (Hawaii) family.

The victory was the fifth in 28 starts for Look Happy, and her first in a race above the allowance level, having previously placed multiple times in both handicaps and stakes company.