A Dominant Victory for Simply Joking
Simply Joking delivered a commanding front-running performance in the $100,000 Santa Maria (G3) on Saturday, securing a resounding victory under the guidance of jockey Emisael Jaramillo at Santa Anita. The race, which featured fillies and mares competing over 1 1/16 miles, saw the 4-5 favorite take control from the outset and maintain her lead throughout.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Simply Joking outpaced the second-choice contender, Nafisa (6-5), to take the lead and never faced any significant challenge. Her final margin of victory was a impressive 6¾ lengths. This win marked Simply Joking’s first success at the graded level, adding to her growing list of accomplishments.
Prior to this win, Simply Joking had shown promise as a competitor. Last year, the daughter of Practical Joke claimed victory in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds while being trained by Whit Beckman. Now, with McCarthy at the helm, she has continued to demonstrate her potential.
Race Details and Performance
The race was run in a time of 1:42.38, with Simply Joking setting fractions of 2:3.25, :46.65, 1:10.44, and 1:35.73. These times highlight her consistent pace and strong performance throughout the race. Lemon Muffin, ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Patrick Gallagher, finished in third place.
Jaramillo reflected on the race, stating, “To me it was a two-horse race.” He explained that he had planned to sit in second if Nafisa took the lead, but simply Joking’s strong start allowed him to take the front. “She was super comfortable all the way around,” he added.
Ownership and Background
Simply Joking is owned by a group of stakeholders, including Berkels 0813, CMNWLTH, Grantley Acres, and Ryan Conner. This victory came in her fourth start under McCarthy, all of which have taken place in California. In previous races, she has shown competitive form, finishing second in the Bayakoa (G3) at Del Mar and third in the La Brea (G1) at Santa Anita.
In her only prior start this year, Simply Joking placed fourth in the B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile (G1). Despite these results, McCarthy remains optimistic about her potential. “She had trained super for this,” he said. “I just told Emisael to bounce out of there and try to keep her face clean, and he did exactly that.”
Future Prospects
McCarthy also noted that the decision by Juan Hernandez not to engage with Simply Joking provided a favorable opportunity. “We found ourselves on an easy lead turning up the backside. This was good today; it gives us a lot of options.”
The Santa Maria is a key preparatory race for the Santa Margarita (G2), which will be run over 1 1/8 miles on May 30 at Santa Anita. McCarthy believes that distances between seven-eighths to a mile and a sixteenth are best suited for Simply Joking. However, he is open to exploring longer distances, noting that “nine furlongs could be within her reach.”
He added, “The way she ran today maybe a mile and an eighth even. We will take them as they come.”
Additional Information
Simply Joking paid $3.60 for the win, reflecting her status as the favorite. She was bred in Pennsylvania by Barlar LLC, with Imply, an E Dubai mare, as her dam. Her pedigree and performance continue to make her a notable figure in the racing world.
