Practical Joke

PRACTICAL JOKE (c, Into Mischief—Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor)

O-Klaravich Stables, Inc. & William H. Lawrence. B-Whispering Oaks (KY). T-Chad C. Brown. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg '15 KEEJAN; $240,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 6-3-2-0, $1,015,800.

Last Start: 2nd, GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 8

Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI Hopeful S., SAR, Sept. 5; 1st, GI Champagne S., BEL, Oct. 8.

Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs

KY Derby Points: 74

There was plenty of buzz about Practical Joke as a 2-year-old. The athletic bay won his first three races, including two Grade I stakes. Then he ran a respectable third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile before being given a freshening leading to a spring campaign consisting of a pair of decent seconds in two well-stocked Derby preps. In both the Fountain of Youth and the Blue Grass S., Practical Joke moved a touch too soon, which is fine in and of itself because those five- and four-furlong sustained runs likely served a useful learning purpose. But it's difficult to get a true read on whether this colt is being ultra-patiently primed to peak precisely on Derby Day or if he's stuck on a development plateau and simply hitting the board is the best he's capable of at Classic distances. It's not inconceivable that Practical Joke unleashes a big, powerful breakout race in the Derby. I just wouldn't bet serious money that he will. This colt is winless since Oct. 8 and has never won a two-turn race at any level (that latter distinction is shared by five other horses among the TDN Top 20). After a 1:01.60 breeze (19/35) in blinkers last Friday, trainer Brown said, “We wanted to explore the small-cup blinker with him … I'll think about it a little more but I'm leaning toward running him with them … He wasn't too aggressive but he seemed a little more focused through the lane. He got away from his workmate in the gallop out, willingly, which we wanted to see.”

VIDEO PPS