As a son of champion sprinter Runhappy, So Happy wasn't supposed to be able to get the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Grade 1 $500,000 Santa Anita Derby, but he did, winning the race by 2 3/4 lengths.

The distance was the biggest question mark for So Happy as he squared off April 4 at Santa Anita Park against 6-5 favorite Potente, a $2.4 million yearling sale purchase who was undefeated in two starts from the Bob Baffert barn including a win over So Happy in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes presented by DK Horse.

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Potente and San Felipe runner-up Robusta set the early pace, with Potente being responsible for the first quarter-mile in :23.03. So Happy, under jockey Mike Smith, rated in third.

"Today he really felt fit and ready to race," Smith said.

The stalking position suited So Happy perfectly. He was able to challenge the leaders going into the second turn. Robusta began backing up to finish last, but Potente stuck with So Happy around the turn and fought into the stretch.

Potente gamely battled with So Happy but So Happy "kept on going today," Smith said. In the final sixteenth, So Happy put away Potente to cross the wire 2 3/4 lengths ahead in 1:49.01. Potente was the best of the rest, coming home 6 3/4 lengths in front of longshot Vitruvian Man in third.

"There's more there in the tank for sure," Smith said. "I'm looking forward to going to Kentucky again."

So Happy earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve with the win. The Santa Anita Derby also awarded 50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby points for second through fifth.

The reasons for So Happy's success range from the colt's own constitution and fortitude to the excellent training job done by Mark Glatt. So Happy also could be getting a push from Dena Glatt, Mark's wife, who died unexpectedly on Feb. 12 at age 57.

So Happy races for Hans and Ana Maron's Saints or Sinners and Robert Norman's Norman Stables. The Marons are longtime clients of Glatt's, and over the years had become good friends with Mark and Dena.

"This is very emotional because of what Dena went through," Ana Maron said. "I kept saying it's not just for us anymore. You have to think about what a joy this will be bringing the Glatt family."

Mark Glatt, usually all business in postrace interviews, spoke emotionally with Michelle Yu of Santa Anita about what the win meant and how the Marons have supported him.

"We have had an overwhelming amount of support that's helped us get through this very tough time," Glatt said. "(Dena) got that horse there today. I'm just so thankful to the owners for giving me this opportunity. They are big contributors to my stable. I just appreciate their friendship. Since Dena's passing, they've called me every night. They've just been tremendous."

Glatt spoke more about So Happy.

"He got back within a month's time, and horses are going to improve second time two turns," he said.

So Happy won his first two starts around one turn, including the seven-furlong Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes.

"I thought Mike put a beautiful ride on him today, settled him into a perfect spot," Glatt said. "Just having had a two-turn effort under his belt and getting back in in a relatively short period of time and then getting a really nice trip today was the difference."

Leverett S. Miller bred So Happy in Kentucky, and Glatt bought the colt for $150,000 at the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. So Happy had previously sold for $12,000 as a weanling at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and $20,000 as a yearling at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. So Happy is out of winner So Cunning , a homebred for Leverett and his late wife, Linda.

Favored Meaning Takes Santa Anita Oaks

Meaning. (Dan Birch/Eclipse Sportswire.)

Meaning was the two-length winner of Saturday's Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks presented by Surfside April 4. If the connections of Meaning look familiar, it's because the same group triumphed a year ago in the Santa Anita Derby with Journalism. The connections returned to Santa Anita Park with a filly this time who has marched up the ladder with a professional win that should serve her well in her next start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Seven 3-year-old fillies broke from the gate Santa Anita Oaks. Meaning settled into fourth under jockey Juan Hernandez, as leading French Blue traveled the first quarter-mile in :22.88 and a half in :46.55. Meaning angled out at the five-sixteenths pole, and Brooklyn Blonde made a move around leaders to briefly poke her head in front around the second turn. Once Meaning found clear running on the outside, she ranged up alongside of Brooklyn Blonde to challenge and went on to score in 1:43.99 for 1 1/16 miles as the 0.90-1 favorite. Brooklyn Blonde finished second, 13 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place Bank Shot.

Michael McCarthy, who also conditions Journalism, trains Meaning for two of Journalism's primary owners.