Runhappy, Work All Week Square Off in Phoenix Stakes

Runhappy, Work All Week Square Off in Phoenix Stakes

Breeders’ Cup Photo ©

Runhappy Winning the 2015 King's Bishop Stakes - Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Runhappy Winning the 2015 King’s Bishop Stakes – Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos/Lauren King

In a highlighted-anticipated matchup of two of the best sprinters in the country, King’s Bishop Stakes (gr. I) winner Runhappy will challenge 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) champion Work All Week in a fantastic renewal of the $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) on October 2nd at Keeneland.

Runhappy has won 4 of his 5 career starts to date and is unbeaten in sprint company, stamping himself as a leader of the division with his dominating four-length romp in the King’s Bishop. Work All Week, who won the Phoenix in 2014, lost his first two starts of 2015 but rebounded with an impressive win in the Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Stakes on August 1st at Mountaineer. Whoever emerges victorious from this matchup could very well go off as the favorite in the October 31st Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

But Runhappy and Work All Week aren’t the only notable names entered in this six-furlong sprint, which has drawn an impressive field of twelve horses. 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint third-place finish Gentlemen’s Bet, 2014 King’s Bishop runner-up Fast Anna, and the graded stakes winner BarbadosHoly Boss, Sharp Sensation, and Nates Mineshaft.

The full field for the Phoenix is as follows:

$250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1 Runhappy, Edgar Prado, Maria Borell
2 Gentlemen’s Bet, Robby Albarado, Ron Moquett
3 Barbados, Luis Saez, Michael Tomlinson
4 Holy Boss, Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen
5 Sharp Sensation, Jose Ortiz, Reade Baker
6 Nates Mineshaft, R Mojica Jr., Anne Smith
7 A. P. Indian, D. Centeno, A. Delacour
8 Alsvid, Chris Landeros, C. Hartman
9 Fast Anna, C. Hill, Wayne Catalano
10 Bump Start, Paco Lopez, K. Gorder
11 Waco, Eric Cancel, H. Bond
12 Work All Week, Florent Geroux, R. Brueggemann

Follow J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman"):

J. Keeler Johnson is a writer, blogger, videographer, and all-around horse racing enthusiast who was drawn to the sport by Curlin's quest to become North America's richest racehorse. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. He lives in Wisconsin and also writes for the Bloodhorse.com blog Unlocking Winners.

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