Practical Joke to begin pre-Derby campaign in March

Trainer Chad Brown has circled the first Saturday in March as the likely time to get Practical Joke under way for his pre-Derby campaign.

Brown Sunday morning said the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, or the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct -- both on March 4, both at 1 1/16 miles -- are the races under consideration for Practical Joke’s first start since he finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“Those are the two we’ve zeroed in on,” Brown said.

Practical Joke suffered his first career loss in the Juvenile after three victories, including Grade 1 scores in the Hopeful and Champagne.
He’s had one work at Palm Meadows, a 3-furlong breeze last Tuesday that was his first drill after a post-Breeders’ Cup freshening.