Photo:

Fair Grounds / Amanda Hodges Weir / Hodges Photography

Simply Joking, who used a stalking trip to win her debut
against stakes company last month, found the sloppy Fair Grounds main track to
her liking Saturday. She led the whole way and won by 2 1/2 lengths in the 33rd
running of the black-type, $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes, a points prep for
the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Sent off as the 8-5 betting favorite, the daughter of
Practical Joke drew away in the second turn on her way to a winning time of
1:44.30 for the one mile and 70 yards. Her early fractions were 23.70, 47.53,
1:12.84 and 1:39.78.

Click here for Fair Grounds entries and results.

Ridden by Jaime Torres for trainer Whit Beckman, Simply
Joking paid $5.40, $3.40 and $2.80. She also picked up 20 points toward
qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Bless the Broken (16-1) finished second to earn 10 points.
She returned $9.00 and $5.20. Drexel Hill (9-1), also trained by Beckman, came
in third, got six points and paid $4.20 to show. Chasten (2-1) took fourth and
got four points. Golden Gamble (2-1) got two points for coming in fifth. She’s
a Swede (12-1) was far back finishing last of the six 3-year-old fillies.
California Sunset and Gowells Delight were scratched.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Barlar, Simply Joking was sold to
Grantley Acres for $65,000 during the Keeneland yearling sale in September
2023. Also owned by Ryan Conner and Berkels0813, she was a
first-time winner by a neck Dec. 21 in the six-furlong Letellier Memorial
Stakes at Fair Grounds.