By J.N. Campbell
In the Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds it was Simply Joking (Practical Joke) who took home the prize with a gate to wire display and the 20 points which can be applied to her 'Road to the Kentucky Oaks' account.
The 3-year-old came into the race having only one other start under her belt when the Pennsylvania-bred captured the Letellier Memorial Stakes in New Orleans Dec. 21.
Backed as the 8-5 choice here, Simply Joking was handed a rather easy lead and proceeded to make every pole a winning one. Unable to catch her heading into the lane, the field watched as she glided over the slop to win over the late running longshot Bless the Broken (Laoban). Beckman's other entry, Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro), finished in third place.
The next stop on Fair Grounds's 'Road to the Kentucky Oaks' is the $400,000 GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes Feb. 15 with 50-25-15-10-5 in qualifying points up for grabs.
“That was exactly how I thought it would go right there,” Whit Beckman said. “We've still got a lot of ground between here and [the Kentucky Oaks]. We're giving them each challenges and they're accepting every one. We'll see how it all falls and see [whether Simply Joking or Her Laugh] is better suited for the Rachel Alexandra.”
Beckman's other budding stable star is Grantley Acres homebred Her Laugh (Practical Joke) who herself is undefeated in two races with her last win coming in the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds Dec. 21.
The winner's dam foaled a filly in mid-March of last year by Uncle Mo and she was entered in Good Magic's book for this spring. Simply Joking's third dam is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Holy Bull (Great Above).
FASIG-TIPTON SILVERBULLETDAY S., $145,500, Fair Grounds, 1-18, 3yo, f, 1m 70y, 1:44.30, sy.
1–SIMPLY JOKING, 122, f, 3, by Practical Joke
1st Dam: Imply (MSW, $772,728), by E Dubai
2nd Dam: Allude, by Orientate
3rd Dam: Ed's Holy Cow, by Bet Big
($65,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner and Berkels0813; B-Barlar, LLC (PA); T-D. Whitworth Beckman; J-Jaime A. Torres. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $153,000. *1/2 to Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun), SW & GSP, $186,540.
2–Bless the Broken, 122, f, 3, Laoban–The Nightingale, by Tapit. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Cypress Creek Equine, LLC (KY); T-William Walden. $30,000.
3–Drexel Hill, 122, f, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Ascot Walk, by Daaher. ($20,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Legion Racing; B-Tuscany Bloodstock (KY); T-D. Whitworth Beckman. $15,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, 3. Odds: 1.70, 16.70, 9.90.
Also Ran: Chasten, Golden Gamble, She's a Swede. Scratched: California Sunset, Gowells Delight.
Click for the Equibase.com chart.
Simply Joking was all business in the Silverbulletday at @fairgroundsnola for trainer Whit Beckman with @jaimetorresjcky aboard! 🏆
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ezv59GadvJ
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 18, 2025
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