Saratoga: In debut, Becky’s Joker (21-1) wins Schuylerville
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Veteran trainer Gary Contessa returned to Saratoga on Thursday after a four-year absence. He won the 105th running of the Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes on opening day of the meet with 21-1 long shot Becky’s Joker, who was making the first start of her career.
“This is the way you want to come back,” the very happy Contessa explained. “I’m back. I tried the real world, but this side of the fence is the happier place for me. I like the other side of the fence, but I love this side of the fence.”
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For Contessa this was victory number 2,400 in his career that began in 1985. According to Equibase, his last win at Saratoga was with Another Miracle in the 2019 Skidmore Stakes.
“I spent two years at Fair Hills, and before that was COVID,” Contessa said. “It was the year before COVID that I won at Saratoga in 2019.”
The daughter of Practical Joke out of the Elusive Quality mare Becky’s Best broke slowly from post position 2 and was in mid-pack early in the six-furlong race.
“When she broke a little slow, I wasn’t surprised, because she is so big,” described the winning trainer. She’s 16-3 (hands and inches). I expected her to break slow, and I was hoping that she would engage immediately, which she did, and got right behind the leaders, and I loved her position and thought we had a big chance.”
Jockey Javier Castellano asked her for more in the turn, and she responded. Splitting rivals at the top of the stretch, Becky’s Joker drew away for a 3 1/4-length victory that was Castellano’s third in the Schuylerville.
Early leader Saratoga Secret (7-2) finished second. Closing Act (5-1) lived up to her name when she rallied to take third. Post-time favorite Wine On Tap (1-1) never improved on her early position, and she settled for fourth in the field of seven.
The winning time of 1:12.52 on the fast, main track followed early fractions of 22.45, 46.03 and 58.83 seconds.
Becky’s Joker, who cost owner Lee Pokoik $130,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November breeding-stock sale, paid $44.40, $12.80 and $7.10. Saratoga Secret returned $4.90 and $3.50. Closing Act paid $4.60 to show.
From the beginning Contessa knew he had a talented filly in his barn.
“When you run a first-time starter against horses that have experience, what could get you beat is the lack of experience,” Contessa said. “I knew physically she was as good as anything in this race. She trained like a stakes horse, but you don’t know what will happen when the gate opens. She told me from day 1 I’m the right horse, and I’m good enough for a race like this.”
Looking ahead, Contessa said that the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway on September 3 at Saratoga would be Becky’s Joker’s next start.