Making her first begin past a mile since final 12 months’s Kentucky Oaks (G1), Merely Joking was not messing round within the $100,000 Santa Maria Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park April 19. The 4-year-old Sensible Joke filly took benefit of her early pace and lack of opponents to soar house a 6 3/4-length winner.
Merely Joking solely had three opponents to fret about Sunday, and just one ever made her presence recognized to the frontrunner all through the 1 1/16-mile journey. Breaking neatly for Emisael Jaramillo from the third put up, the 4-5 favourite rapidly established command and a spot on the rail.Merely Joking, b, 4/f
Sensible Joke — Indicate, by E Dubai
Proprietor: Grantley Acres, Berkels0813, LLC or |CMNWLTH, LLC, et al
Breeder: Barlar, LLC (PA)
Coach: Michael W. McCarthy
Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
Info supplied by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Sensible Joke stands at Ashford Stud for $75,000 (2026).
Sale Historical past
KEESEP2023 • $65,000 • Consignor: Ballysax Bloodstock • Purchaser: Grantley Acres.
Zedan Racing Stables’ Nafisa , the 6-5 second selection, parked on Merely Joking’s exterior for jockey Juan Hernandez, however Merely Joking was shifting too comfortably into the backstretch to be impacted whereas posting fractions of :23.25, :46.65, and 1:10.44.
Leaving Lemon Muffin and Catalina Cocktail , who would end third and fourth, within the mud getting into the far flip, Merely Joking began to edge away little by little from Nafisa. Regardless of Hernandez’s urging on his filly, it was clear turning for house that the race was over.
Stopping the clock in 1:42.38, Merely Joking paid $3.60 to win.Join BloodHorse Every day
Sunday’s victory marked her first since shifting to Michael McCarthy’s barn following a last-of-13 end within the Kentucky Oaks (G1), a race she emerged from with a bone chip needing to be eliminated. Earlier than the Oaks when within the barn of Whit Beckman, she opened her profession 2-for-2 in stakes firm and was runner-up within the Fantasy Stakes (G2).
In her 4 prior begins for McCarthy, she had solely raced at 7 furlongs and 1 mile, selecting up placings within the La Brea Stakes (G1) and Bayakoa Stakes (G3). In her first begin of the 12 months March 7, she was a nicely crushed fourth by Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash (G1) winner Splendora within the Beholder Mile (G1).
“I although we had a legit excuse final time. She had educated tremendous for this,” McCarthy instructed Santa Anita’s Michelle Yu within the winner’s circle. “I noticed Emisael bounce out of there and (I had instructed him to) go forward and attempt to maintain her face clear, and he did precisely that. I believe we caught somewhat little bit of a break when Juan determined to not have interaction and we discovered ourselves on a straightforward lead turning up the bottom.”
With the triumph now underneath her belt, McCarthy mentioned it’ll possible open numerous choices shifting ahead.
“This was good at present,” McCarthy mentioned. “I suppose wherever from 7 (furlongs) to a mile-and-a-sixteenth. And the way in which she ran at present, perhaps a mile-and-an-eighth even. However we’ll take them as they arrive.”
Merely Joking races for Berkels0813, Cmnwlth, Grantley Acres, and Ryan Conner. Bred in Pennsylvania by Barlar, she was bought by Grantley Acres for $65,000 out of the Ballysax Bloodstock consignment on the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She has now earned $440,750 by way of a 3-2-1 report from 9 begins.
Out of the a number of stakes-winning E Dubai mare Indicate , she joins Tejano Twist because the second graded stakes winner this 12 months for Sensible Joke, who stands at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud for a $75,000 charge.
Video: Santa Maria S. (G3)
