Practical Move returned to the races for the first time since winning the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and picked up where he left off, taking a $63,700 allowance optional claimer Oct. 6 while coasting home by four lengths, again at Santa Anita Park, where he is 4-for-4.
Practical Move won the Santa Anita Derby by a nose, making him a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs a month later. However, while in Louisville, Practical Move spiked a temperature the week of the race and had to be scratched.
Yakteen had said this week that a good effort could propel Practical Move to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 4 in his backyard and at his favorite track. Today’s race would appear to have done just that.
Under Ramon Vazquez, who has been aboard for four straight wins dating to December’s Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), the Practical Joke colt followed the early speed—Newgrange and Tripoli —two to three lengths behind early on before circling that pair at the quarter pole and kicking clear at the top of the stretch.
Tripoli held on for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Newgrange. American Admiral trailed throughout in the field of four but only missed the show spot by a nose.
Practical Move, owned by Leslie and Pierre Amestoy and Roger Beasley, is by Practical Joke out of the winning Afleet Alex mare Ack Naughty . Both sire and dam were trained by Chad Brown, who bred Practical Move with Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners
Video: Race 8 (AOC) at SA on 10/6/23
