The emotional story surrounding So Happy at the 2026 Kentucky Derby extends far beyond the racetrack, as trainer Mark Glatt prepares for the biggest race of his career while continuing to mourn the loss of his wife, Dena Glatt.
The two had been married for 25 years. Dena died on February 12 at the age of 57 due to heart failure.
Glatt has spoken openly about the emotional toll the loss has taken as he navigates the Kentucky Derby spotlight for the first time in his three-decade training career.
"She was right by my side, and a big part of what I do professionally, as well as being my life partner," he said in an interview.
So Happy's rise through the Derby trail has been especially emotional for Glatt, who admitted the celebration felt incomplete without Dena beside him.
"It's not the same, I can't help wishing she was here," Glatt told NBC after the April race. "It's been the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with in my life."
Glatt believes Dena remains connected to the journey as So Happy enters the Kentucky Derby as a legitimate contender.
"I think she'd be very proud of an accomplishment like this. We're still together, you know, even if it's just in spirit," he told reporters before the race.
