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Practical Joke (horse)
Practical Joke (foaled April 15, 2014 in Kentucky) is a retired multiple Grade I-winning American Thoroughbred racehorse whose wins included the Hopeful, Champagne and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes.
Practical Joke is a bay stallion with a star and no other white markings who was bred in Kentucky by Whispering Oaks. He is from the fifth crop of foals by Into Mischief, a stakes winning son of Harlan's Holiday and out of Leslie's Lady, who later produced champion Beholder. Into Mischief originally stood for only $12,500, but his profile increased when he sired two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents. Practical Joke is the fourth foal out of the stakes placed mare Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor. He was sold twice as a yearling in 2015, first in the Keeneland January mixed sale for $135,000 and then at the Keeneland September sale for $240,000.
Practical Joke started his career in a 6-furlong Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga on August 6. He was sent off as the 12/5 favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Leaving the gate, he bumped with another horse and was near the back of the pack down the backstretch. He went wide on the turn and started to close quickly on the early leaders, then drew away in the stretch to win by 5 lengths.
He then entered the Hopeful Stakes on September 9 where he was the 2-1 second choice in a field of six behind Classic Empire. Ridden by José Ortiz, he settled at the back of the pack behind a slow early pace, then swung wide around the turn. In the stretch, he battled with Royal Copy and Pretty Boy Flash but inched away late in the final furlong to win by a neck. Ortiz said after the race, "He was running the whole way. He gave me a great turn of foot when I got him in the clear but the other two horses were in front and they kept fighting a little bit. As soon as he put a head in front, he kept going."
The win was particularly satisfying for trainer Chad Brown, a trainer with a good reputation with fillies and turf horses, but who had never won a Grade I race with a colt on the dirt. "It's really a dream come true", said Brown. "I'm just so happy. What a great moment for me and my staff... It's been a pleasure to train him. That first race I thought he ran well and his second time here he also came back to run a huge race."
Practical Joke's final prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park on October 8. He was the 5-2 second choice behind Syndergaard at 9–5. Now ridden by Joel Rosario, he broke awkwardly and ducked in toward the rail, then settled into mid-pack. He made his move around the turn and in the stretch he got even with Syndergaard and dueled down to the wire to win a head bobbing finish by a nose in a time of 1:34.68. It was the fourth fastest Champagne Stakes in the history of the race. Rosario stated after the race, "He kind of broke awkward on the inside and I had to use him a little through the chute. He was looking around and it took him a little time to get back in the race but he was fine after that. They were going really fast up front but it looks like the more distance he gets to run into the better he gets. For a second when I got to the other horse (Syndergaard) he waited a little bit. He's still a young horse if anything but looks good going forward."
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile was held at Santa Anita race track on November 5. Practical Joke was one of several horses at 7-1 odds in a highly competitive field of thirteen that included Grade I winners Klimt (Del Mar Futurity), Gormley (FrontRunner) and Classic Empire (Breeders' Futurity). At the break, Practical Joke bumped with Not This Time, then settled into mid pack. On the far turn, he angled to the outside and pulled into third place but finished over seven lengths behind Classic Empire and Not This Time.
Practical Joke began the year as one of the top-ranked colts for the 2017 Kentucky Derby, although concerns were expressed about the lack of stamina influences in his pedigree. He made his first start of 2017 in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 4 at Gulfstream Park. After settling in the middle of the pack during the early running, Practical Joke moved to the lead around the far turn but was passed in the stretch by Gunnevera. Brown was happy with the performance, believing Practical Joke needed the race.
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Practical Joke (horse)
Practical Joke (foaled April 15, 2014 in Kentucky) is a retired multiple Grade I-winning American Thoroughbred racehorse whose wins included the Hopeful, Champagne and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes.
Practical Joke is a bay stallion with a star and no other white markings who was bred in Kentucky by Whispering Oaks. He is from the fifth crop of foals by Into Mischief, a stakes winning son of Harlan's Holiday and out of Leslie's Lady, who later produced champion Beholder. Into Mischief originally stood for only $12,500, but his profile increased when he sired two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents. Practical Joke is the fourth foal out of the stakes placed mare Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor. He was sold twice as a yearling in 2015, first in the Keeneland January mixed sale for $135,000 and then at the Keeneland September sale for $240,000.
Practical Joke started his career in a 6-furlong Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga on August 6. He was sent off as the 12/5 favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Leaving the gate, he bumped with another horse and was near the back of the pack down the backstretch. He went wide on the turn and started to close quickly on the early leaders, then drew away in the stretch to win by 5 lengths.
He then entered the Hopeful Stakes on September 9 where he was the 2-1 second choice in a field of six behind Classic Empire. Ridden by José Ortiz, he settled at the back of the pack behind a slow early pace, then swung wide around the turn. In the stretch, he battled with Royal Copy and Pretty Boy Flash but inched away late in the final furlong to win by a neck. Ortiz said after the race, "He was running the whole way. He gave me a great turn of foot when I got him in the clear but the other two horses were in front and they kept fighting a little bit. As soon as he put a head in front, he kept going."
The win was particularly satisfying for trainer Chad Brown, a trainer with a good reputation with fillies and turf horses, but who had never won a Grade I race with a colt on the dirt. "It's really a dream come true", said Brown. "I'm just so happy. What a great moment for me and my staff... It's been a pleasure to train him. That first race I thought he ran well and his second time here he also came back to run a huge race."
Practical Joke's final prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park on October 8. He was the 5-2 second choice behind Syndergaard at 9–5. Now ridden by Joel Rosario, he broke awkwardly and ducked in toward the rail, then settled into mid-pack. He made his move around the turn and in the stretch he got even with Syndergaard and dueled down to the wire to win a head bobbing finish by a nose in a time of 1:34.68. It was the fourth fastest Champagne Stakes in the history of the race. Rosario stated after the race, "He kind of broke awkward on the inside and I had to use him a little through the chute. He was looking around and it took him a little time to get back in the race but he was fine after that. They were going really fast up front but it looks like the more distance he gets to run into the better he gets. For a second when I got to the other horse (Syndergaard) he waited a little bit. He's still a young horse if anything but looks good going forward."
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile was held at Santa Anita race track on November 5. Practical Joke was one of several horses at 7-1 odds in a highly competitive field of thirteen that included Grade I winners Klimt (Del Mar Futurity), Gormley (FrontRunner) and Classic Empire (Breeders' Futurity). At the break, Practical Joke bumped with Not This Time, then settled into mid pack. On the far turn, he angled to the outside and pulled into third place but finished over seven lengths behind Classic Empire and Not This Time.
Practical Joke began the year as one of the top-ranked colts for the 2017 Kentucky Derby, although concerns were expressed about the lack of stamina influences in his pedigree. He made his first start of 2017 in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 4 at Gulfstream Park. After settling in the middle of the pack during the early running, Practical Joke moved to the lead around the far turn but was passed in the stretch by Gunnevera. Brown was happy with the performance, believing Practical Joke needed the race.