Simply Joking has no trouble with Santa Maria Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Simply Joking, unchallenged on the lead, was the easy winner of Sunday’s Grade 3 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. It was her first win at the graded level in her seventh attempt.
Ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, Simply Joking led by a half-length on the first turn, by 1 1/2 lengths on the final turn, by four lengths in the stretch and won by 6 3/4 lengths without urging.
“I told Emisael to bounce out of there and keep her face clean,” winning trainer Michael McCarthy said.
McCarthy envisioned Simply Joking facing an early threat from Nafisa, the easy winner of the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita in January. Nafisa, ridden by Juan Hernandez in the $98,000 Santa Maria, was second throughout Sunday’s race.
“I thought we got a break when Juan did not engage,” McCarthy said.
Simply Joking ($3.60) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.38 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93. Nafisa, the 13-10 second choice, finished 19 lengths clear of 5-1 Lemon Muffin. Catalina Cocktail faded on the turn.
Simply Joking, owned by a partnership that includes Grantley Acres and Ryan Conner, has won 3 of 9 starts and earned $440,750.
A 4-year-old filly by Practical Joke, Simply Joking won her first two starts – the Letellier Memorial Stakes at six furlongs at Fair Grounds in December 2024, and the Silverbulletday Stakes there in January 2025 when trained by Whit Beckman.
Simply Joking later finished second for Beckman in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March 2025.
Simply Joking joined McCarthy’s stable last summer. The Santa Maria was his first win for him and third start at Santa Anita since late December.
Simply Joking was third in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 28 and fourth of five in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile after a wide trip on March 7.
Only four ran in the Santa Maria.
Syntax, a 4-year-old filly claimed for $10,000 on April 3, was listed as scratched by track stewards on race morning.
Syntax is trained by Librado Barocio, who had three horses entered at Santa Anita on Friday and Sunday. All were listed as scratched by stewards.
Barocio did not return repeated phone calls on Sunday requesting comments regarding the scratches. He has one horse entered on Friday’s program, the next day of racing at Santa Anita.
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