Practical Joke (horse)
Practical Joke | |
---|---|
Chad C. Brown | |
Record | 12: 5–2–3 |
Earnings | $1,795,800[1] |
Major wins | |
Hopeful Stakes (2016) Champagne Stakes (2016) Dwyer Stakes (2017) H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (2017) |
Practical Joke (foaled April 15, 2014 in Kentucky) is a retired multiple Grade I-winning American
.Background
Practical Joke is a bay colt 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.[2] 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.[1]
Racing career
2016: two-year-old season
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.[3]
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."[4]
The win was particularly satisfying for trainer Chad Brown, a trainer with a good reputation with fillies and
Practical Joke's final prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was the
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.[7]
2017: three-year-old season
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.[8] 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.[9]
Practical Joke made his next start in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 at Keeneland racetrack. He made a sustained drive down the stretch and finished just three-quarters of a length behind longshot Irap, with highly regarded McCraken three lengths behind in third. Despite concerns over Practical Joke's stamina, Brown was cautiously optimistic about the colt's prospects in the Derby. "Maybe this is a year that we want to take a shot because we have a horse that has the points [earned in the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby], and he did sustain his run."[10]
The Kentucky Derby was held on May 6 over a wet-fast track at Churchill Downs. Practical Joke drew post position 19 but Rosario was able to guide him over to the rail to save ground around the first turn. In the final turn, Practical Joke moved to the outside and made a strong run to advance to fourth in mid-stretch before tiring slightly and finishing fifth. Brown was pleased by the effort, saying, "He got a great trip from that post...He's a very fine racehorse. He just can't go that far. But he was fighting and trying."[11][12]
Brown gave the colt a layoff then entered him in the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park on July 8 where he was made the 4-5 favorite. Practical Joke rated in fourth behind the early pacemakers, but was trapped on the inside as they entered the stretch. Swung wide by Rosario, he finally found racing room and quickly pulled away to win by two lengths. Brown was pleased. "He really ran well today. I certainly think it's the best race he's ever won."[13]
On July 30, Practical Joke made his next start in the
On August 26, Practical Joke started in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. He drew post 1 and again was ridden by Rosario. He broke well and settled towards the rear of the field, as Takaful set the pace. Rosario started asking Practical Joke to go around the final turn, and Practical Joke unleashed a sustained rally, winning by 1 1/4 lengths with a time of 1:21.96 for seven furlongs. With the win, Practical Joke earned the third grade one victory of his career. Brown stated after the race: "To cut back all the way to seven-eighths after a tough race in the Haskell, I'm so proud of this horse. It was his third race in seven weeks. He's our iron horse."[15]
Practical Joke made his next start in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on November 3. Unfortunately he drew the outside post position, a major disadvantage in a two-turn mile. He broke slowly and was angled sharply over to the rail to save ground on the first turn. Down the backstretch, he raced near the back of the field, then started to make up position around the second turn. With a quarter of a mile remaining, he was swung wide and closed down the stretch, finishing fourth.[16][17]
Practical Joke's final start was in the Cigar Mile on December 2 at Aqueduct. He settled at the back of the pack, over 12 lengths behind a fast early pace. Around the far turn, he moved wide and circled the field to make up ground but was still finished well back in third behind Sharp Azteca and Mind Your Biscuits. "It was hard to make up ground today on this track", commented Brown. "That said, the winner was very impressive, and I don't think it would have mattered how the track was playing; it looked like nobody was going to beat him today."[18]
Statistics
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 – Two-year-old season | |||||||||||
Aug 6, 2016 | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 2.40* | 10 | 1 | 1:10.02 | 5 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [19] | |
Sep 5, 2016 | 7 furlongs | Hopeful Stakes | I | Saratoga | 2.10 | 7 | 1 | 1:23.39 | neck | Irad Ortiz Jr. | [20] |
Oct 8, 2016 | 1 mile | Champagne Stakes | I | Belmont Park | 2.95 | 6 | 1 | 1:34.68 | nose | Joel Rosario | [21] |
Nov 5, 2016 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | I | Santa Anita | 7.80 | 11 | 3 | 1:42.60 | (7+1⁄2 lengths) | Joel Rosario | [22] |
2017 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
Mar 4, 2017 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Fountain of Youth Stakes | II | Gulfstream Park | 3.40 | 10 | 2 | 1:44.25 | (5+3⁄4 lengths) | Jose Ortiz
|
[23] |
Apr 8, 2017 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Blue Grass Stakes | II | Keeneland | 3.60 | 7 | 2 | 1:50.39 | (3⁄4 length) | Joel Rosario | [24] |
May 6, 2017 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Kentucky Derby | I | Churchill Downs | 27.80 | 20 | 5 | 2:03.59 | (9+1⁄2 lengths) | Joel Rosario | [25] |
Jul 7, 2017 | 1 mile | Dwyer Stakes | III | Belmont Park | 0.75* | 5 | 1 | 1:35.16 | 2 lengths | Joel Rosario | [26] |
Jul 30, 2017 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Haskell Invitational
|
I | Monmouth Park
|
4.40 | 7 | 3 | 1:48.35 | (1⁄2 length) | Joel Rosario | [27] |
Aug 27, 2017 | 7 furlongs | H. Allen Jerkens Stakes | I | Saratoga | 2.00* | 9 | 1 | 1:21.96 | 1+1⁄4 lengths | Joel Rosario | [28] |
Nov 3, 2017 | 1 mile | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | I | Del Mar
|
5.80 | 10 | 4 | 1:35.20 | (5+1⁄4 lengths) | Joel Rosario | [29] |
Dec 2, 2017 | 1 mile | Cigar Mile Handicap | I | Aqueduct | 2.85 | 10 | 3 | 1:35.17 | (8 lengths) | Joel Rosario | [30] |
Source: Equibase Charts[1]
Retirement
After his win in the Allen Jerkens, it was announced that his breeding rights were purchased by
Notable progeny
His major stakes winners include: c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
2019 | Berberisca (CHI) | f | Alberto Solari Magnasco (Chile) (CHI) |
2019 | El Oriante (CHI) | c | Tanteo de Potrillos (CHI) |
2019 | Joke Sisi (CHI) | f | Clásico Mil Guineas (CHI) |
2019 | Mbagnick (CHI) | c | Gran Criterium (Chile) (CHI) |
2020 | Chocolate Gelato | f | Frizette Stakes |
2020 | Practical Move | c | Santa Anita Derby |
2020 | Richi (CHI) | f | Tanteo de Potrancas (Chile) (CHI} |
2020 | Soqui (CHI) | c | Tanteo de Potrillos (Chile) (CHI} |
Pedigree
Sire Into Mischief 2005 |
Harlan's Holiday 1999 |
Harlan | Storm Cat |
---|---|---|---|
Country Romance | |||
Christmas In Aiken | Affirmed | ||
Dowager | |||
Leslie's Lady 1996 |
Tricky Creek | Clever Trick | |
Battle Creek Girl | |||
Crystal Lady | Stop the Music
| ||
One Last Bird | |||
Dam Halo Humor 2003 |
Distorted Humor 1993 |
Forty Niner | Mr. Prospector |
File | |||
Danzig's Beauty | Danzig | ||
Sweetest Chant | |||
Gilded Halo 1996 |
Gilded Time | Timeless Moment | |
Gilded Lilly | |||
Careless Halo | Sunny's Halo | ||
Careless Moment (family: A4[34]) |
Practical Joke is inbred 5 x 5 to Halo, meaning Halo appears twice in the fifth generation of Practical Joke's pedigree.
References
- ^ a b c "Practical Joke Profile". Equibase. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ Sparkman, John P. "Practical Joke is Into Mischief's latest serious runner". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Chart for Saratoga". Equibase. August 6, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Hammonds, Evan. "Practical Joke Takes the Hopeful". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Singelais, Mark (September 6, 2016). "Chad Brown ends "dream" meet with Hopeful win". Times Union. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b Angst, Frank. "Practical Joke Edges Syndergaard in Champagne". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Chart of the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile". Equibase. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Haskin, Steve (January 24, 2017). "Derby Dozen". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- ^ Wincze Hughes, Alicia. "Gunnevera Comes From Clouds in Fountain of Youth". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- ^ "Blue Grass Hero Irap in Good Order After Shocking Win". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- ^ Wincze Hughes, Alicia. "Always Dreaming in Good Order After Derby Triumph". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ "Chart for the 2017 Kentucky Derby". Equibase. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ Hammond, Evan. "Practical Joke Shines in Dwyer". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "Girvin Gets it Done in Haskell Invitational". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "Practical Joke Too Good in H. Allen Jerkens". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ "Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Two turns the issue for Practical Joke | Daily Racing Form". www.drf.com. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ "Chart of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile" (PDF). Equibase. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ "Sharp Azteca Rolls to Cigar Mile Score". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ "Chart Saratoga 6 August 2016 Maiden Special Weight (race 2)". equibase.com. August 6, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Hopeful Stakes Grade 1 (race 10)". equibase.com. September 5, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Champagne Stakes Grade 1 (race 8)". equibase.com. October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile Grade 1 (race 8)". November 5, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes Grade 2 (race 13)". March 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Toyota Blue Grass Stakes Grade 2 (race 10)". April 8, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands Grade 1 (race 12)". May 6, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Dwyer Stakes Grade 1 (race 6)". July 7, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes Grade 1 (race 12)". July 30, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Grade 1 (race 8)". August 27, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Grade 1 (race 7)". November 3, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets Grade 1 (race 10)". December 2, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Practical Joke to Ashford Stud for 2018". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ "Ashford Stud Sets Fees for Practical Joke, Cupid". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ Mitchell, Eric (October 2, 2022). "Chocolate Gelato Delivers Sweet Victory in Frizette; Repole Stable's Chocolate Gelato won by three-quarters of a length in 1:38.57". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Practical Joke Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.