If there’s a joke going on Racecourse Saratoga in the 105th run of the Schuylerville Stakes (G3), no one won it but a select few.
Coach Gary Contessa is smiling, and so is boss Lee Pokoik. You may also have giggled with jockey Javier Castellano.
That’s because their chubby 2-year-old Becky’s Joker was the surprise winner of the first of the meeting’s 43 classified bets in front of a announced crowd of 29,102.
At the end of six innings, Becky’s Joker was, for the first time in her career, a 3 1/4 length winner at 21-1 odds. She is the second longest standing in the seven field. Dancing Diana , June Mila , Status seeker And Alliance suitable for scratched.
“I know that physically she’s the best in this race,” Contessa said. “She’s been trained as a stake horse, but you never know what will happen when the gate opens.”
Once a mainstay on the New York circuit, this was Contessa’s first Saratoga win since July 24, 2019. In March 2020, he left the New York coaching game but returned as a coach personal trainer at Delaware Park for Nick and Delora Beaver’s Bell Gable stables.
Contessa, who also worked as a blood tester, knew he had to go back to where he was. Horse training is what he wants to do. He has a stable of 12 horses and is kept on the Oklahoma Training Road; he has been there since May.
“This feels right,” Contessa said. “I say to my wife every day, ‘I know you want me to be a real estate agent, I know you want me to be a brain surgeon.’ But I really want to train horses. My life blood is horse training, that’s what I want to be. There’s nothing better than this.”
Two years ago, Contessa bought the Joker from Becky, the daughter of Realistic jokes at weaning for $130,000 at Keeneland Livestock stock sale in November.
“We always try to sell them as one-year fry,” says Contessa. “If they don’t sell as chicks a year, we sell them when they’re 2 years old.”
The only problem, which turned out not to be bad at all, was that no one wanted to buy her. Contessa said everyone thought she was too big with 16.3 gloves, and he got the filth back.
Now, he and Pokoik have another bet winner. Pokoik says that they have been together for 35 years. They teamed up to win the 2018 Spinaway Stakes (G1), which was Contessa’s last point-counted win before this one.
Gary Contessa gives race fans high-hands after Becky’s Joker wins Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse
“I’ve tried selling this twice,” says Pokoik. “This has happened before when I won Spinaway with Port of Sippican . No one wants her.”
See, people were joking back then.
After a slow start in Schuylerville, Castellano brought Becky’s Joker into the game. She moved into position and sat fourth in the back carmelina , Saratoga’s secret and love even money wine on tap . Nearing the quarterfinals post, Becky’s Joker sped up, moving between the horses, and dashed for an easy win.
“She’s very professional,” Castellano said. “She’s right behind the horses and she covers up a bit. I like to move in the quarter-post when she splits the horse and gallops away.”
Becky’s Joker Connection in Winner’s Circle
Saratoga Secret and driver Luis Saez finished second, 3½ distance ahead The Act of Ending and Tyler Gaffalione. Wine On Tap and Irad Ortiz Jr. about Wednesday.
“Yes, I’m surprised at the winner,” said Saratoga Secret Hall of Fame coach D. Wayne Lukas. “But I think we’ve beaten some good horses. We don’t have to bow. We’ve beaten some damn good horses.”
Becky’s Joker, who will likely target $300,000 in Revolving Bets (G1) on September 3, ran six that lasted for 1:12.52 and paid out $44.40.
Videotapes: Schuylerville S. (G3)
