Schuylerville Winner Becky's Joker May Go in Adirondack

Becky's Joker , the upset winner of the Schuylerville Stakes (G3) on opening day at Saratoga Race Course, might be seen sooner than later.

Originally, trainer Gary Contessa intended to wait until the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 3 for the next start for Becky's Joker, owned by Lee Pokoik.

Contessa said he may tweak that plan after watching the daughter of Practical Joke   work four furlongs in :47.40 with exercise rider Carlos Lopez July 26 on the Oklahoma Training Track.

"I am not going to say it's definite, but she has gone from questionable to probable for the Adirondack," Contessa said at his barn on the Oklahoma July 26. "She has forced us to go in that direction. Off this work...it was so impressive. She can work herself to death and not get paid or she can run in the Adirondack."

Becky's Joker, sent off at 21-1 odds in the July 13 Schuylerville, won the six-furlong race by 3 1/4 lengths. It was her first career start.

Contessa said if he runs Becky's Joker in the Adirondack Stakes (G3), he has confidence she could return in the Spinaway.

"It would be the 13th (of July) to (August) the sixth and we're talking 23 days," Contessa said. "And then it's the sixth to the third of September, so we're talking 28 days. It's not really that tough to imagine. If it's up to me, I'm leaning towards running her. She is doing so good right now."