On Aug. 1, trainer Gary Contessa had Becky’s Joker , the 2-year-old filly that won the Schuylerville Stakes (G3) in her first career start, work four furlongs on the Oklahoma Training Track. On Aug. 6, the plan is for the daughter of Practical Joke to run in the $200,000 Adirondack Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course.
With Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano on board, Becky’s Joker completed her breeze in 48.77 seconds, the fifth fastest of 16 at the distance.
“Castellano was motionless on her,” Contessa said outside his barn on the Oklahoma Aug. 2. “She really doesn’t need to do much more than that. She galloped out in 1:01; it was a great work, an excellent work.”
Contessa said he does not worry about having a work that close to a race.
“I am a little unorthodox in the way I train,” Contessa said. “I am going to do it the way I feel it needs to be done and not what people think. The horse tells me when I am going to work. I’ve been doing it like that for 35 years.”
Becky’s Joker won the Schuylerville at odds of 21-1. Contessa hopes that the filly, owned by Lee Pokoik, will be able to also run in the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) on Sept. 3 at the Spa.
