When Simply Joking won the Letellier Memorial Stakes last month at Fair Grounds, she became only the second horse in 10 years to debut in a stakes and win, and the only other time it happened was in a race restricted to Alabama-breds.

Indeed, Simply Joking’s bow in the Letellier was impressive, overcoming a slow start to run down heavily favored Whata Moon despite what Brisnet designated as a moderately slow pace going six furlongs. Of course, the waters get deeper in the Silverbulletday Stakes on Saturday, facing more accomplished horses for her two-turn debut, but that last race was just too good to dismiss her here.

The presence of known names such as Chasten and Golden Gamble to Simply Joking’s inside should help us get our wanted price on Simply Joking. She is 3-1 on the morning line, and although I expect her to be clearer favorite than that, our 6-5 fair odds should be safe. Simply Joking is a single in the various all-stakes multiple-race wagers Fair Grounds is offering on its 12-race Lecomte Stakes card.

The Silverbulletday is a Kentucky Oaks points race, and from that perspective I am not sure how far Simply Joking ultimately wants to go, being by Practical Joke out of an E Dubai mare. But 1 mile 70 yards appears in her scope. Golden Gamble has more upside looking ahead to 1 1/8 mile-type races such as the Oaks, but I am concerned she is showing signs of being a plodder. I will be more bullish on her chances moving forward if she ends up more forwardly placed here with the inside draw.

California Sunset is the likely underlay of this field. At 5-1 on the morning line, she has the connections and breeding to attract money, but her style gives me the same concerns as Golden Gamble without better speed ratings. No one will be surprised if trainer Brad Cox improves a filly in her 3-year-old debut, but I will let this one beat me.

Gowells Delight is 8-1 on the morning line, but I could see her floating from there. Like Simply Joking, she is a debut winner by Practical Joke, and like Golden Gamble, she is trained by Ken McPeek. I like that she stalked and pounced on debut, and she could be the exotic key to this race if she goes off at double-digit odds.