Despite slow start, first-timer Becky's Joker scores $44 upset in Schuylerville
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Gary Contessa made quite the return to Saratoga Thursday sending out first-time starter Becky’s Joker to a 21-1 upset in the Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes, the opening-day feature as the 160th meet got underway.
Off last in a scratch-reduced field of seven 2-year-old fillies, Becky’s Joker, under Javier Castellano, got just behind the leaders down the backstretch, split horses at the head of the lane and, despite drifting out four paths late, won by 3 1/4 lengths over Saratoga Secret.
It was 3 1/2 lengths back to Closing Act in third. Wine On Tap, the even-money favorite, finished fourth and was followed by Carmelina, Sugar Treat, and Kiss for Luck.
Dancing Diana, Mila Junes, and Union Suit were all scratched by their trainers. Status Seeker was scratched by the veterinarian in the morning.
In March 2020, after 35 years in the business, Contessa quit training horses. He was away for only one year, but when he returned he worked primarily as a private trainer based in Delaware for the Bell Gable Stable of Nick and Delora Beaver.
Thursday’s card, on which Contessa also ran Classy Mischief in a maiden race, represented just his second and third starters at Saratoga since 2019.
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“Effin awesome,” Contessa said. “This is the way to come back. I’m back. I tried the real world, but this side of the fence is the happier place for me.”
Even while working for Bell Gable, Contessa was still helping his longtime client Lee Pokoik buy and sell horses. Earlier this year, Contessa went back to being a public trainer with Pokoik as one of his main clients.
In 2021, Contessa bought a weanling daughter of Practical Joke for $130,000 with the idea of pinhooking her at either the yearling or the March 2-year-old sales.
The filly didn’t sell at either one, the feedback, according to Contessa, was that she was “too big.
“In the back of my mind I’m thinking this is good, I might get to keep this one and that’s exactly what happened,” Contessa said.
Contessa said the same thing happened with the filly Sippican Harbor, who in 2018 won the Grade 1 Spinaway here.
“Hopefully, we’ll get to win a Grade 1 with this one,” Contessa said.
Becky’s Joker is a big filly and it likely caused her to break slow. But she has some speed and quickly caught up to sit fourth right behind Carmelina, Saratoga Secret, and Wine On Tap who were three abreast through a half-mile in 46.03 seconds.
At the top of the lane, a hole opened up between horses and Castellano guided Becky’s Joker on through. By the time she got to drifting out, Becky’s Joker was well clear.
“She got a good education, dirt in the face, split horses like a really good horse, like a very mature horse,” Castellano said. “She got tired a little bit. She stepped up on the big stage with horses that have been running before and she win very impressive. I give her a lot of credit.”
Becky’s Joker covered the six furlongs in 1:12.52, earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure, and returned $44.40 as the second-longest shot on the board. She will point to the Grade 1 Spinaway on Sept. 3.
The win by Becky’s Joker followed by Thundara ($18) in the finale made for a pick-six carryover of $109,629 heading into Friday’s card.
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