Simply Joking Doesn't Mess Around in Santa Maria Romp

Making her first start beyond a mile since last year's Kentucky Oaks (G1), Simply Joking was not messing around in the $100,000 Santa Maria Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park April 19. The 4-year-old Practical Joke filly took advantage of her early speed and lack of competitors to soar home a 6 3/4-length winner. Simply Joking only had three competitors to worry about Sunday, and only one ever made her presence known to the frontrunner throughout the 1 1/16-mile journey. Breaking smartly for Emisael Jaramillo from the third post, the 4-5 favorite quickly established command and a spot on the rail. Zedan Racing Stables' Nafisa, the 6-5 second choice, parked on Simply Joking's outside for jockey Juan Hernandez, but Simply Joking was moving too comfortably into the backstretch to be impacted while posting fractions of :23.25, :46.65, and 1:10.44. Leaving Lemon Muffin and Catalina Cocktail, who would finish third and fourth, in the dust entering the far turn, Simply Joking started to edge away little by little from Nafisa. Despite Hernandez's urging on his filly, it was clear turning for home that the race was over. Stopping the clock in 1:42.38, Simply Joking paid $3.60 to win. Sunday's victory marked her first since moving to Michael McCarthy's barn following a last-of-13 finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), a race she emerged from with a bone chip needing to be removed. Before the Oaks when in the barn of Whit Beckman, she opened her career 2-for-2 in stakes company and was runner-up in the Fantasy Stakes (G2). In her four prior starts for McCarthy, she had only raced at 7 furlongs and 1 mile, picking up placings in the La Brea Stakes (G1) and Bayakoa Stakes (G3). In her first start of the year March 7, she was a well beaten fourth by Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) winner Splendora in the Beholder Mile (G1). "I though we had a legitimate excuse last time. She had trained super for this," McCarthy told Santa Anita's Michelle Yu in the winner's circle. "I saw Emisael bounce out of there and (I had told him to) go ahead and try to keep her face clean, and he did exactly that. I think we caught a little bit of a break when Juan decided not to engage and we found ourselves on an easy lead turning up the backside." With the triumph now under her belt, McCarthy said it will likely open a lot of options moving forward. "This was good today," McCarthy said. "I guess anywhere from 7 (furlongs) to a mile-and-a-sixteenth. And the way she ran today, maybe a mile-and-an-eighth even. But we'll take them as they come." Simply Joking races for Berkels0813, Cmnwlth, Grantley Acres, and Ryan Conner. Bred in Pennsylvania by Barlar, she was purchased by Grantley Acres for $65,000 out of the Ballysax Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She has now earned $440,750 through a 3-2-1 record from nine starts. Out of the multiple stakes-winning E Dubai mare Imply, she joins Tejano Twist as the second graded stakes winner this year for Practical Joke, who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud for a $75,000 fee.