Beckman not kidding around with Simply Joking and Her Laugh

The interstates from New Orleans to Louisville hardly offer a driver a pleasing, scenic experience, yet Whit Beckman, making that journey Sunday, sounded ebullient. And why not? The day before, Beckman sent out first-time starting 2-year-old filly Simply Joking to win the $100,000 Letellier Stakes and 2-year-old filly Her Laugh to win the $100,000 Untapable.

Simply Joking got a 78 Beyer Speed Figure for her six-furlong win, Her Laugh a 74 after leading on a slow pace going a mile and 70 yards.

Geoff Dixon’s Grantley Acres bred and owns Her Laugh and is a part owner of Simply Joking. Both fillies are by Practical Joke, did their early farm training together, came to Beckman as a pair, and always breezed together preparing for their racing careers.

Now, Beckman said he’ll find a way to keep the pair apart while eyeing January route races for both.

While Her Laugh, a debut sprint winner at Churchill Downs, clearly has ability, Beckman raves about Simply Joking. In the Letellier, she missed the break, was steadied into the turn, got caught wide around the bend, found herself in a dogfight with favored Whata Moon through the homestretch, and switched back to her wrong lead during the heat of battle.

“Everything that usually gets a first-time starter beat happened,” Beckman said. Moreover, Beckman believes Simply Joking is meant for route racing. “She’s a beast, an absolute specimen. You look at the pedigree and a mile and an eighth looks perfect. The good ones, they can win going six [furlongs] anyway.”

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