Practical Joke (horse)

Practical Joke
Practical Joke at the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Sire	Into Mischief
Grandsire	Harlan's Holiday
Dam	Halo Humor
Damsire	Distorted Humor
Sex	Colt
Foaled	April 15, 2014
Country	United States
Color	Bay
Breeder	Whispering Oaks
Owner	Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence
Trainer	Chad C. Brown
Record	9: 4–2–2
Earnings	$1,395,800
Major wins
Hopeful Stakes (2016) Champagne Stakes (2016) Dwyer Stakes (2017)
Last updated on July 9, 2017

Practical Joke (foaled April 15, 2014 in Kentucky) is a multiple Grade I-winning American Thoroughbred racehorse.

Practical Joke is a bay colt with a star and no other white markings who was bred in Kentucky by Whispering Oaks. He is from the fifth crop of foals by Into Mischief, a half-brother of champion Beholder. Into Mischief originally stood for only $12,500, but his profile increased when he sired two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents. Practical Joke is the fourth foal out of the stakes placed mare Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor. He was sold twice as a yearling in 2015, first in the Keeneland January mixed sale for $135,000 and then at the Keeneland September sale for $240,000.

Practical Joke started his career in a 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga on August 6. He was sent off as the 5–12 favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.. Leaving the gate, he bumped with another horse and was near the back of the pack down the backstretch. He went wide on the turn and started to close quickly on the early leaders, then drew away in the stretch to win by 5 lengths.

He then entered the Hopeful Stakes on September 9 where he was the 2-1 second choice in a field of six behind Classic Empire. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, he settled at the back of the pack behind a slow early pace, then swung wide around the turn. In the stretch, he battled with Royal Copy and Pretty Boy Flash but inched away late in the final furlong to win by a neck. Ortiz said after the race, "He was running the whole way. He gave me a great turn of foot when I got him in the clear but the other two horses were in front and they kept fighting a little bit. As soon as he put a head in front, he kept going."

The win was particularly satisfying for trainer Chad Brown, a trainer with a good reputation with fillies and turf horses, but who had never won a Grade I race with a colt on the dirt. "It's really a dream come true", said Brown. "I'm just so happy. What a great moment for me and my staff... It's been a pleasure to train him. That first race I thought he ran well and his second time here he also came back to run a huge race."