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. 

Off that performance, Life Is Good was the odds-on choice in the Grade 1 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 6. He lived up to expectations with a commanding gate-to-wire win, running away to a dominant 5 3/4-length victory. He covered the mile in 1:34.12.

Life Is Good made his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Presented by 1/ST BET at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29, 2022. He set the early pace, opened up a big advantage up the backstretch, and did not look back as he coasted to an impressive victory. 

On the strength of that victory, Life Is Good was considered a very likely winner of the Group 1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline at Meydan on Mar. 26. He had the lead turning for home, but flattened out in the last eighth of a mile and ended up finishing fourth. 

Life Is Good made his first start since his Dubai Trip in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park on July 2. He went off as the overwhelming 1-5 favorite against just three rivals, and easily disposed of all challenges for the victory. He ran seven furlongs in 1:21.70 on a fast dirt track.

Off of that dominant win, Life Is Good was made the morning-line favorite in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 6, and he left the starting gate as the post-time favorite as well against a small but competitive field. Irad Ortiz Jr. hustled his mount immediately to the lead of the 1 1/8-mile Whitney and Life Is Good led the field into early stretch before receiveing a challenge from stablemate Happy Saver. He held off that foe by two lengths to score his third Grade 1 win and earn an automatic berth in the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic via the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.

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.