Friday Double for Practical Joke

Practical Joke had an exciting double on Friday when Klugman (3c Practical Joke x Polyester, by Tiz Wonderful) ran away in a Maiden Special Weight by open lengths and Lightning Struck (3c Practical Joke x Stone Hope, by Gulfstream) won an Allowance by 2 ¾ lengths.

Making his second career start, Klugman broke out of the gate quickly in the six furlong Gulfstream Park Maiden Special Weight and wasn’t for catching. He had a larger lead at every call and with only mild urging by Rafael Hernandez in the stretch. By the time he hit the line, the Eddie Plesa trainee was 13 lengths in front in an eased down finish.

Klugman is owned by Karl and Cathi Glassman, who purchased him as a yearling for $140,000 from Stuart Morris.

Lightning Struck was looking for his second straight victory on Friday and easily secured it in a Delta Downs Allowance.

Racing just a few lengths off the leader in the seven furlong race, he made his presence known around the turn and had the lead by the time they hit the stretch. The field wasn’t going to let him have it easy but late in the stretch, Lightning Struck started pulling away and only one horse was within 5 ½ lengths of him as he finished the race.

Trained by Steve Asmussen for Mike McCarty, Lightning Struck has won his last two starts with the wins coming within two weeks of each other.

The Nursery Place-bred is out of the winning Stone Hope, who has produced Irish champion Spirit of Valor and multiple stakes winner Street Life. Lightning Struck is one of seven winners out of his dam with the mare one of three stakes producers out of Fairest.

Bred by France and Irwin Weiner and Valery and Tristan de Meric, Klugman is a half-brother to Grade III winner Harpers First Ride. Their dam is a half-sister to stakes winner Sneaky Quiet, who has also proved to be a strong stakes producer.