Unico Happy Right Back to Winning Ways

Representing Haras El Angel de Venecia, Unico Happy dug in gamely to capture the Handicap Equalize at San Isidro, narrowly holding off Hop On

Wide out, Unico Happy proved too strong for the gritty Hop On / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Back on the course of his greatest triumph, Unico Happy (Hi Happy) returned to winning ways Sunday with a hard-fought victory in the Handicap Equalize (1400m, turf, left-handed), the feature at San Isidro. Carrying top weight of 60 kilos, the Haras El Angel de Venecia runner had to dig deep to repel the stubborn challenge of Rosario shipper Hop On (Endorsement, 57).

Ridden by Eduardo Ortega Pavón, Unico Happy tracked the pace comfortably while, as expected, though without his usual aggression, Midnight Runner (Forge, 55) showed the way through fractions of :24.27 and :47.80.

Once straightened for home, Unico Happy shifted to the middle of the course and launched his run, just as Hop On struck the front along the inside. The pair battled fiercely from the 300-meter pole to the wire, but in the final strides Unico Happy edged clear to prevail by a half-neck, with El Gazpacho (Bodemeister, 56.5) finishing three lengths back in third. Final time for the seven furlongs was 1:22.20 on good ground.

Bred by Haras La Providencia and trained by Carlos D. Etchechoury (presented by Daniel A. Bordón), Unico Happy rebounded from a lackluster comeback effort in Buenos Aires and signaled his return to prominence in the middle-distance ranks.

The win marked the fifth of his career from 14 starts, and his third outside the handicap ranks, having previously captured the G1 Gran Criterium in 2023 and the G2 Clásico Joaquín V. González last season.