When So Happy (c, 3, Runhappy–So Cunning, by Blame), won his first two starts, both sprints, impressively, then yielded when stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in the GII San Felipe Stakes, it was assumed he had distance limitations. After all, his own sire, Runhappy, was the 2015 champion sprinter, and So Happy had kicked off his own career with a 6 1/2-furlong maiden win Nov. 22 and a GII San Vicente Stakes win Jan 10 at seven furlongs.So Happy ignored both the PPs and his sire's aptitude Saturday, scoring at 1 1/8 miles at the highest level to capture the GI Santa Anita Derby and punch his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby. Saturday's race awarded Derby points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.Cherokee Nation (Not This Time) stumbled out of the Santa Anita Derby gate as heavy chalk Potente (Into Mischief) went to the lead. Robusta (Accelerate) kept him company through :23.03 and :46.79 fractions as So Happy bided his time midpack. So Happy made a three-wide move in to the lane, took command after a brief battle with the favorite, and powered home by about three lengths as Potente chased him home and Vitruvian Man (Vino Rosso) finished third.O-Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners; B-5-Leverett S. Miller (Ky); T-Mark Glatt; J-Mike Smith. #5 SO HAPPY ($16.60) and Mike Smith rolled home to win the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1), earning 100 pts. towards the Kentucky Derby. The son of Runhappy is trained by Mark Glatt. pic.twitter.com/4YabcWCysI— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 4, 2026The post So Happy Upsets Heavy Favorite Potente in Santa Anita Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.