Ashford Stud's freshman stallion Practical Joke was represented by his first winner from his second starter when Tom Durant's homebred Catchusifyoucan won on debut May 22 in the fifth race at Lone Star Park.
Catchusifyoucan was second-to-last early in a six-horse field of 2-year-old fillies racing in a 4 1/2-furlong, $34,000 maiden special weight. Ridden by Reylu Gutierrez for trainer Bret Calhoun, she made an inside bid and was up late to win by a half-length. The final time was :53.06 on the fast main track.
Bred in Kentucky, Catchusifyoucan is out of Durant's stakes-winning Bellamy Road mare Legal Mind.
Practical Joke, a 7-year-old son of Into Mischief —Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor, won his first three starts at 2—including the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Champagne Stakes (G1)—and also took the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at 3. He compiled a 5-2-3 record in 12 starts and earned $1,795,800 on the racetrack for trainer Chad Brown and owners Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence. Whispering Oaks bred the bay in Kentucky.
Durant and Calhoun also had the first starter for Practical Joke, Tejano Twist, who was second on debut April 18 at Keeneland and fourth, beaten a length, May 14 at Churchill Downs after a bothered start.
Practical Joke's first crop of 2-year-olds have averaged $186,486 from 43 sold this year at public auction. He stands at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., for an advertised $22,500 fee.
