Shesawildjoker Wins Shesastonecoldfox Stakes

Stakes-placed in her previous two attempts at the stakes level, Shesawildjoker (2c Practical Joke x Tarquinia, by Speightstown) became Practical Joke’s third stakes winner Monday with a victory in the Shesastonecoldfox Stakes.

The filly proved that slop doesn’t bother her when easily handling the six furlongs on the Finger Lakes dirt with a flourish. Running as the race favorite, the filly raced two lengths off the leader for much of the race before she was piloted to the inside to make her bid for the lead.

The final furlong saw Shesawildjoker put her head in front before taking a commanding lead from there. She scored a 2 ¼ length victory in the end with the third place finisher nearly five lengths behind at the line.

Trained by David Donk for Joseph Bucci, Shesawildjoker has finished in the top three in three of four starts. She earned her first stakes placing last out when finishing third to Classic Empire’s Classy Edition with her only non-stakes start coming in her maiden breaking debut at Saratoga.

Bred by Three Diamonds Farm in New York, Shesawildjoker was purchased by her racing owner from the Bluewater Sales consignment at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Shesawildjoker is the first foal out of a winning Speightstown daughter of Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Luna Vega, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Athenavega with another half-sister producing the stakes-placed Normandy Crossing.

Practical Joke’s three stakes winners is third best among all freshman sires, as is his five stakes performers. His group is led by Grade III winner and Grade I-placed Wit.