Former claimer Joking became owner/trainer Charlton Baker's first graded stakes winner last time in the GII True North S. and became his first Grade I winner Saturday with a powerful late run to capture the GI Vosburgh Invitational S. and earn an all expenses paid trip to Santa Anita for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 5. A bit overlooked by the bettors despite entering this test off a three-race win streak, the bay bided his time near the back of the pack as comebacking favorite X Y Jet (Kantharos) doled out swift early splits of :21.59 and :44.12 over the muddy surface. Ranging up six wide turning for home, the gelding unleashed a furious late turn of foot to run down Stallwalkin Dude, who took over from the tiring favorite, in the final furlong and score his first win at the highest level.
“Super! Super! That's the word to describe it,” Baker said. “We're definitely going to go on the Breeders' Cup [Sprint] from here. I felt great when they went :21 for the quarter. It's been an unbelievable year. Saratoga was huge and before that, Belmont was also huge. Winning a Grade II here and coming back to win a Grade I and having a chance to win one more has been good. It's been great.”
It was also the first Grade I win for jockey Manny Franco, who said, “I feel blessed. That's what all jockeys want to do, win a Grade I. I'm so happy. I rode him like I always do. When he got in the clear, he gave me a big kick, like always. That's normal for him, when he gets clear, he just wants to run.”
Bred by Darley, Joking started his career carrying the Godolphin blue for trainer Tom Albertrani and was later claimed by Three Diamonds Farm, Good Karma Stables and trainer David Cannizzo for $35,000 at Aqueduct in September 2013. Baker claimed him three starts later for just $20,000 in January of 2014 and developed him into a rather consistent runner with a record of 26-8-6-4 since coming under Baker's care. Joking has rounded into his best form as a 7-year-old, kicking off 2015 with a neck second in a Mar. 20 optional claimer over the Aqueduct inner. Following that effort with a decisive victory over the Big A's main track Apr. 13, he captured this venue's Diablo S. in the mud May 8 and got up just in time to best MGISW Dads Caps (Discreet Cat) by a neck last time in the track-and-trip GII True North S. June 10.
Pedigree Notes:
Joking's stakes-winning dam Spun Silk, who was campaigned by Darley, is a half-sister to MGSW and MGISP sprinter and now sire Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway). This is also the family of English and Irish Highweight Minardi (Boundary); GSW and GISP sire Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat); and European and American champion Johannesburg (Hennessy). Spun Silk did not produce a foal in 2014 or 2015, but gave birth to a filly named Silk Ransom (Regal Ransom) Mar. 20 of this year. She was bred back to Shackleford, who was represented by his first 2-year-olds this year.
Saturday, Belmont Park
VOSBURGH S.-GI, $350,000, BEL, 10-1, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.18, my.
1–&JOKING, 124, g, 7, by Distorted Humor
1st Dam: Spun Silk (SW), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Spunoutacontrol, by Wild Again
3rd Dam: Yarn, by Mr. Prospector
O/T-Charlton Baker; B-Darley (KY); J-Manuel Franco. $210,000.
Lifetime Record: 39-10-8-8, $846,138. Werk Nick Rating: A+++
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Stallwalkin' Dude, 124, g, 6, City Place–Chelle Spendabuck,
by Dare and Go. O-Head of Plains Partners LLC & David
Jacobson; B-Mary M. Haire (FL); T-David Jacobson. $70,000.
3–Weekend Hideaway, 124, h, 6, Speightstown–Apocalyptical,
by Wiseman's Ferry. ($40,000 Ylg '11 FLZDIS). O-Red and Black
Stable; B-Flying Zee Stables (NY); T-Philip M. Serpe. $35,000.
Margins: 1, 1, 2HF. Odds: 4.00, 7.20, 7.80.
Also Ran: Holy Boss, X Y Jet, Dannie's Deceiver, Green Gratto. Scratched: A. P. Indian.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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