Becky’s Joker makes her debut a winning one in the Schuylerville (Chelsea Durand)
Nutella Fella All Set for G1 Hopeful
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Lee Pokoik’s Becky’s Joker, who made a memorable debut with a 21-1 upset in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on July 13 here, has scratched from today’s seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway for juvenile fillies.
“She’s a little under the weather,” trainer Gary Contessa said. “She’s just not herself – baby stuff. Maybe she’s getting sick, but I know she’s not herself, so there was no doubt in my mind to scratch. Soundness is no problem.”
Piloted by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano on debut, the 2-year-old daughter of Practical Joke rallied from fourth in the six-furlong Schuylerville to post a 3 1/4-length score and garner a lofty 75 Beyer Speed Figure.
The 16.3 hands high filly followed with a flat performance when seventh in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Adirondack on August 6 here, leading Contessa to believe the filly may have been in heat.
Contessa said Becky’s Joker will remain at Saratoga and train up to the Grade 1, $300,000 Frizette on October 7 at Belmont at the Big A, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 3 at Santa Anita Park.
“That would be my ultimate goal, especially since it’s a ‘Win and You’re In,'” Contessa said. “She’s done a lot already and gone above and beyond. She’ll stay up here and train into the Frizette.”
Bred in Kentucky by Warren J. Harang, Becky’s Joker is out of the Elusive Quality mare Becky’s Best – a half-sister to graded stakes winner Vertical Oak, the dam of graded stakes-placed sophomore Giant Mischief.
Contessa will still have one more chance to win a Grade 1 before the Spa meet closes when he saddles Bell Gable Stable’s maiden winner Nutella Fella in the seven-furlong $300,000 Hopeful on Labor Day Monday.
The Runhappy colt, previously trained by Richard Sillaman, earned a 65 Beyer for a 2 1/4-length maiden score traveling 5 1/2-furlongs on July 26 at Delaware Park. He is listed at 30-1 on the morning line and will exit post 3 in rein to Junior Alvarado.
“He could not be better. He is running,” Contessa said. “First time out, he did everything wrong and still won the race. That says a lot because his antics in the paddock, in the post parade, in the gate and everything else, you would think that would have cost him 10 lengths and yet he still won like a good horse. He ran a fairly decent number, so 30-1 or not, we don’t know how good this horse might be. All I can tell you is he’s training damn good.”
The $12,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase has breezed extensively at Saratoga, including a five-eighths effort in 1:01.85 August 19 over the Oklahoma training track, a seven-eighths effort in 1:29.66 last Sunday over the main track and a three-eighths effort in 34.80 Thursday on the Oklahoma.
“When it comes to 2-year-olds, you got to be in it to win it,” said Contessa. “Nobody knows off of one race – did this horse get it together and run his best race first time out? Or maybe he’s 10 lengths better than he was. Training wise, I worked him in a minute on the training track, I worked him seven-eighths on the main just to give him a taste of the difference and then I blew him out a few days ago in 34. He’s doing as good going into this race as Becky was going into her first start.
“He’s coming into the race great and I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” continued Contessa. “He’s a horse that could jump up and surprise everybody. He’s undefeated at present, so the sky is the limit.”
Nutella Fella, bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm, is out of the Candy Ride mare Krissy’s Candy, who is a half-sister to the graded stakes-placed duo Danny Boy and Meal Penalty.
