Trainer Michael McCarthy is feeling quite positive about Simply Joking—owned by Berkels0813 LLC, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres, and Ryan Connor—as she switches from longer, two-turn races to a shorter one-turn sprint in Saturday’s $225,000 Princess Rooney (G3) at Gulfstream Park. McCarthy has seen success with this strategy before, notably with Ce Ce, who shifted to one-turn races to capture the 2021 Princess Rooney and then went on to win the prestigious $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar later that year.
Simply Joking has demonstrated strong performances over two turns, earning the status of the 8-5 morning-line favorite among seven contenders in this Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” event, where the winner secures a paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on October 31 at Keeneland. “It’s a well-timed race that fits her schedule,” McCarthy said, expressing hope that her training form will translate to a strong effort. He added that this prep might set her up well for the bigger Breeders’ Cup contest.
The 4-year-old filly by Practical Joke has finished in graded stakes placings recently on routes, including a dominant 6¾-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Maria (G3) at Santa Anita in April. She has also proven competitive on shorter tracks, placing third in the seven-furlong La Brea (G1) at Santa Anita at the end of 2025. McCarthy reflected on Ce Ce’s path as well, noting how the mare transitioned to a one-turn sprint, evolving into a strong late runner—a gamble they were happy to take—which paid off with a decisive Princess Rooney win and a commanding Breeders’ Cup victory. Ce Ce returned to win the Princess Rooney again the following year.
For Saturday, Juan Hernandez will have the mount on Simply Joking for the first time.
No Ordinary Claim: No Bad Beats Returns in Princess Rooney
No Bad Beats, a five-year-old Midnight Storm filly recently claimed for $50,000, will also compete in the Princess Rooney, marking her first start under trainer Leonard Powell and the ownership of Thiele Thoroughbreds LLC. Although stepping up to graded stakes company might seem ambitious, Powell emphasized that No Bad Beats isn’t a typical claimer—she came into their barn with solid credentials, including a second-place finish in the graded Las Flores (G3) at Santa Anita just two races before she was claimed out of a 6½-furlong optional claiming allowance at Del Mar.
Previously trained by Doug O’Neill, she returned to racing after a six-month break with a smooth, pressure-free 3¾-length win. Powell expressed satisfaction with her training progress and believes the Princess Rooney presents a valuable opportunity to secure a Breeders’ Cup spot. The race offers a guaranteed entry to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland for the winner. Riding No Bad Beats will be Diego Herrera, fresh off his title win at Gulfstream’s Royal Palm Meet. She is listed at 12-1 on the morning line.
This article originally appeared on Paulick Report on September 11, 2026.
Fan Take: This matchup is thrilling for horse racing fans because it highlights promising fillies making strategic moves to peak at the right time ahead of the Breeders’ Cup. Watching how Simply Joking adapts to a shorter sprint and how No Bad Beats steps up in class adds anticipation and depth to the sprint division, signaling an exciting season ahead for the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
