Juvenile Double for Practical Joke at Gulfstream

It was a juvenile debut double for Practical Joke at Gulfstream Park on Saturday with victories by Le Amazonia (2f Practical Joke x Oak Marsh, by First Samurai) and Sarcastic Joke (2c Practical Joke x Curlinup, by Curlin).

Making her debut in a Maiden Special Weight going six furlongs on the dirt, it was quickly apparent why bettors sent the Oscar Gonzales-trained Le Amazonia off as favorite. The filly jumped out of the gate and straight to the lead before setting an uncontested pace up front.

The Practical Joke daughter started gradually pulling away and won by five lengths with only two horses within 11 ½ lengths of her at the line.

Racing for Vicente Stella Stables, Le Amazonia was bred by Team Block out of the stakes placed Oak Marsh.

Two races later, Sarcastic Joke made his debut in the colt division of Le Amazonia’s race going the same distance on the dirt for Gustavo Delgado.

Sarcastic Joke broke just a step slow and spent the early bit of the race behind the main body of the field. Coming into the turn, Sarcastic Joke showed off his talent when he closed quickly on the outside to not only join the field but collar the leader by the top of the stretch.

He had to duel with that horse early in the closing stages, but quickly pulled away from that runner. One other horse came after him to see the colt win by a length with the third placed runner four lengths behind.

Sarcastic Joke races for JR Ranch, who purchased him for $240,000 as a short yearling at the 2023 Keeneland January sale. Bred by Prairie Vista Partners, the colt is out of a winning Curlin half-sister to Grade II winner Rolling Sea and two other stakes performers.

In the past week, Practical Joke has had three impressive juvenile Maiden Special Weight winners with He’s Not Joking also breaking his maiden by 1 ¼ lengths at Woodbine last Sunday.