Becky’s Joker heads to the winner’s circle after a winning debut in the Schuylerville (Susie Raisher)
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Lee Pokoik’s Becky’s Joker, who is targeting next Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway, made a memorable debut with a 21-1 upset in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on July 13 at the Spa.
Trained by Gary Contessa and piloted by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, 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.
Contessa’s past Spa graded wins include the 2007 Grade 3 Saranac with Mission Approved and the 2018 Grade 1 Spinaway with the Pokoik-owned Sippican Harbor, but the conditioner said Becky’s Joker’s debut was particularly memorable.
“It’s something other people don’t do. I always look outside the box. I truly believe that in order to succeed you have to endure a lot of failures,” Contessa said. “I’ve had plenty of failures with my crazy, outside the box ideas but then again the successes are tremendous and this is one that was tremendous. She was checking off every box – she had the works, the mental capacity, just everything about her was right, so why not take the shot.”
The victory was Contessa’s first here since 2019 and occurred on his return to saddling horses at the Spa after having worked as a private trainer and general manager for Nick Beaver’s Bell Gable Stable.
The 16.3 hands high Becky’s Joker 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.
“The other day she just threw us a curve on the day of the race. Mentally, she was not right. Her temperature was normal, everything was fine – no sickness. Everything was good, but I was seeing subtle little messages,” Contessa said. “She had come into heat that day as well and we wrote it off. I’m not sure if that’s 100 percent accurate – a lot of fillies will run when they’re in heat and some won’t.
“We went over her medically from top to bottom and we couldn’t find anything wrong with her,” he added. “Young horses do throw you curves and do things you can’t quite explain.”
Becky’s Joker breezed back a sharp half-mile in 47.85 seconds August 19 under exercise rider M.C. Brock and Contessa said the filly appears to be back in full flight.
“She had a great work and will probably work again tomorrow. She’s been 100 percent and training forwardly,” Contessa said. “That was a maintenance breeze. Becky’s Joker’s easy 50 is a 47 and 4. She does that with ease. She has that huge stride and that was well within her wheelhouse.”
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 also be represented in stakes action on Closing Weekend by Bell Gable Stable’s maiden winner Nutella Fella, who is pointed to the seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful on Labor Day.
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.
“I manage Bell Gable Stable and the minute he broke his maiden they sent him to me for the Hopeful,” Contessa said. “There’s a horse that did everything wrong. He was bad in the paddock, he was bad in the gate. He was bad warming up and he stumbled coming out of the gate. He trailed the field and looped them at will and drew off.”
The $12,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase has breezed back three times over the Oklahoma training track, including a five-eighths effort in 1:01.85 August 19.
“We’ve schooled him in the paddock and schooled him in the gate. Hopefully, I have him over all the things he did wrong first time out,” Contessa said. “He’s an interesting horse. We don’t know how good he is, but he did everything wrong and won. His works have been excellent.”
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.
