Argentinian Triple Crown winner Hi Happy takes Man o'War Stakes

Former Argentinian Triple Crown winner Hi Happy (Todd Pletcher/Luis Saez) had a breakthrough first Grade 1 win in the US on Saturday when he beat Sadler's Joy in the $700,000 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont.

Horse of the year in his native country in 2015 following four Group 1 wins, Hi Happy's decisive Grade 2 win in the Pan-American Stakes at Gulfstream in March had suggested he had another top-level win in him, and he duly delivered as the 2-1 favourite on rain-softened turf (officially good).

Luis Saez settled him in second once again behind Gulfstream runner-up One Go All Go from the start, and after being sent to the front inside the final furlong he held the strong late surge of Sadler's Joy by half a length in a time of 2m14.79s.

Hi Happy won six times in succession in Argentina, his winning spree culminating in victory in the prestigious GP Carlos Pellegrini – the South American Arc – but he failed to win in four starts on the west coast after being transferred to Felipe Souza.

However, after being rested for ten months he has come back much improved for top trainer Todd Pletcher and clearly appreciated being switched back to turf at Gulfstream Park over the winter. He is progressing with every start, and on this evidence there is more to come.

Pletcher said: "It was just a perfect trip, exactly what we were hoping for. He delivered a big performance. We're very proud of him."

It was Pletcher's first victory in the Man o'War, which was won by the great Secretariat in 1973 but has often gone to a top European horse. Daylami and Fantastic Light scored for Godolphin and the Dermot Weld-trained Zukhova was an easy winner last year.

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