Life Is Good

Life Is Good made a sparkling debut Nov. 22, 2020 at Del Mar, where he led from start to finish on his was to a runaway 9 ½-length romp for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

The bay Into Mischief colt made his stakes debut in his first race as a 3-year-old Jan. 2 in the one-mile Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. A points race on the road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, the Grade 3 Sham shaped up similarly to Life Is Good’s debut as he seized command and opened a clear lead entering the first turn. He maintained a clear advantage until deep stretch where stablemate Medina Spirit rallied belatedly to cut Life Is Good’s winning margin to a three-quarters of a length.

Life Is Good improved to 2-for-2 and earned 10 qualifying points toward the Derby with the Sham victory. 

On Mar. 6, Life Is Good further affirmed his status as one of the Derby favorites with an emphatic eight-length score in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. He went out to the early lead, then set the pace and drew off in the stretch. Despite lugging out in the stretch, he remained clear of the rest, not encountering any serious challenges. 

Not long after that race, Life Is Good was diagnosed with an ankle chip, and subsequently missed the Triple Crown series. He returned to the races with a strong performance in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 28. He set very fast fractions early on, then dueled with Jackie's Warrior down the stretch. Despite showing great heart, he finished second to that rival, beaten a length. 

In his next start, Life Is Good faced three other rivals in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park on Sept. 25. Under very confident handling from Irad Ortiz Jr, he won by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:34.47, in his first win since the San Felipe. 

Life Is Good is out of the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk. His grandam (maternal grandmother) is Grade 1-placed stakes winner Bonnie Blue Flag.