Charlton Baker was still smiling Oct. 2, a day after Joking punched his ticket to next month's Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) with his win in the Vosburgh (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
Joking, a 7-year-old Distorted Humor gelding owned and trained by Baker, won the Vosburgh by going six-wide and making a strong midstretch surge to capture his fourth straight win and first career grade I victory.
"He came back super and is bouncing in his stall today," Baker said. "He got a good setup and got his track and everything went well. It's the goal of every trainer, to get to the Breeders' Cup."
Joking will now prepare for the Sprint, set for Nov. 5 at Santa Anita Park. Baker said he plans to ship Joking to California no later than 10 days before the race.
"I'd like to ship him ahead to get adjusted, and so he can relax," Baker said.
Joking's one-length score in the Vosburgh marked his first race since winning the grade II True North June 10 at Belmont. Baker said he skipped the Saratoga meet mainly due to the fact that his barn is located near the Oklahoma training track, which provided too many potential distractions.
"It's not about the track; there's just so many people and cars on the backstretch, and that gets him excited," Baker said. "I'm located where he would always be able to see the crowds, so that would get him more hyped up than anything else. It's just the scenery there (at Saratoga). If you're in a quiet area away from all the traffic, he's good."
