Wertheimer and Frere's homebred Happy Saver will retire to Airdrie Stud following this year's Breeders' Cup, the Midway, Ky. operation announced Oct. 21.
Undefeated in his first five starts, Happy Saver's signature victory came in the historic 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), a race he won as a 3-year-old in just his fourth career start. Most recently, Happy Saver ran fourth in the Oct. 1 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Over the past 13 months, he finished second in each of the last four grade 1 races he has contested while competing with the top horses in training. Those efforts include runner-up finishes to Flightline in the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Life is Good in the Whitney Handicap (G1)—races in which he finished in front of the talented grade 1 winners Olympiad , Hot Rod Charlie, Speaker's Corner , and Aloha West , among others.
Conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher throughout his career, Happy Saver will take a 5-5-1 record from 12 starts and earnings of nearly $1.2 million into an expected start in the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland. Plans call for him to be retired following the race.
A regally bred son of the multiple Eclipse Award-siring Super Saver, Happy Saver's female family stands as one of the breed's most important. Out of the sprinting black-type Distorted Humor mare Happy Week, Happy Saver's third dam is broodmare of the year Weekend Surprise, dam of the great champion racehorse and stallion A.P. Indy as well as leading sire Summer Squall.
"Happy Saver has been a priority for our farm since the day we watched him break his maiden in his debut at Belmont," said Airdrie's Bret Jones. "He won by five lengths that day and ran the same (1:21 2/5) as the seven-furlong grade 1 Woody Stephens (Stakes Presented by Claiborne Farm) run on the same card at the same distance. It was a 'wow' performance, and he has validated that early impression by becoming one of the best racehorses in America.
"He's a direct descendent of Weekend Surprise, and when you combine his female family with that of Super Saver's, it's as rich a genetic bank as any horse that will ever retire to stud. He exemplifies the Wertheimer family's best-in-class breeding program, and we are so grateful that they have allowed us to partner with them on a stallion that has the speed, class, and charisma to be a really special sire."
"Winning the Jockey Club as an undefeated 3-year-old takes a very special horse, and that's exactly what we've always believed Happy Saver to be," Pletcher added. "He's a tremendous talent and runs with as much heart as any horse we lead over. He has all the characteristics I think any breeder would look for in a young stallion."
Happy Saver will stand for an initial fee of $12,500, live foal stands and nurses.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
