Joking (Distorted Humor), last seen taking the GI Vosburgh Invitational S. here some 20 months ago in October of 2016, makes a belated return to the races in Friday's GII True North S. at Belmont after surviving a life-threatening bout with pneumonia. That Vosburgh victory was his fourth in a row–he'd previously taken the True North two years ago as a near 10-1 shot in what was the former claimer's graded stakes debut. “I'm excited to get him back to racing,” owner/trainer Charlton Baker said from his base at Finger Lakes. “He looks like he's ready to compete.”
Imperial Hint (Imperialism) was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November, and romped by five lengths on seasonal debut in a state-bred stake at Tampa Mar. 25. He showed the way before stopping pretty abruptly going seven panels in the slop in the GII Churchill Downs S. May 5, but the diminutive overachiever has every right to bounce back here.
Peter Miller, Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen brought Roy H (More Than Ready) from California to romp in this race last year, kicking off a string of performances that were capped by the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and solidified an Eclipse Award as champion sprinter. This time they'll be represented by the lightly raced and progressive Bobby Abu Dhabi (Macho Uno). The $335,000 OBS April acquisition was second to talented City of Light (Quality Road) in the GI Triple Bend S. Mar. 10, and most recently made the grade in the GII Kona Gold S. Apr. 21.
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