Wit a TDN Rising Star for Practical Joke

Practical Joke’s $575,000 Keeneland September graduate Wit (2c Practical Joke x Numero d’Oro, by Medagalia d’Oro) put on a show to open the Belmont Park card on Saturday with a six length victory and a TDN Rising Star title.

The debuter broke a step slow in the 5 ½ furlong Maiden Special Weight and had to settle for a spot in the back of the field. With Jose Ortiz aboard, the colt quickly showed why he’d registered a few bullets before his debut when happily closing over five lengths on the leaders as they rounded the turn.

By the time they entered the stretch, Wit had the lead and was never asked for his best as he continued to pull away down the long Belmont stretch for a six length win.

Bred by Rosilyn Polan, Wit is owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Gainesway. The Todd Pletcher trainee is a half-brother to Munnings’ Grade III winner and multiple stakes winner Barkley and is out of a half-sister to the dam of Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Ivy Bell.

A stallion whose first juveniles have proven to be in high demand from their first days in the sales ring, Practical Joke is showing the hype is real with two winners and one close second-place finisher from three starters.