$500,000 Practical Joke Filly Returns a Winner

Practical Joke’s $500,000 2-year-old Let Her Inspire U (3f Practical Joke x Caribbean Lady, by Speightstown) lived up to that price tag’s promise in her 3-year-old debut with an impressive victory in a Belmont Park Maiden Special Weight.

Breaking best in the field, Let Her Inspire U immediately took control of the 6 ½ furlong race and settled under John Velazquez to lead comfortably.

The filly was confronted around the turn but that runner was no serious threat. When Velazquez asked her to go, Let Her Inspire U shot off to a 3 ¾ length victory with the third placed runner 12 ¾ lengths behind her and the fourth 23 ¼ lengths back.

China Horse Club purchased Let Her Inspire U last March from Top Line Sales at the Fasig-Tipton March Sale last year and sent her to Todd Pletcher. It was the filly’s second time in the ring after Taylor Made Sales sold her on behalf of breeder Pine Ridge Stables as a yearling.

Let Her Inspire U is the third winner from four runners out of the two-time winner Caribbean Lady. That mare is a half-sister to multiple Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Halory Leigh. The family also includes Grade I winners Johnny Guitar and Joe Louis.

Caribbean Lady has a 2-year-old Mendelssohn filly, a yearling Lookin At Lucky colt, and had a full brother to Let Her Inspire U this year.

Practical Joke sits second by graded stakes winners, fourth among second-crop sires by earnings, stakes performers at six, and stakes winners at two in 2022.