Tuesday, April 29, 2025
It was another accomplishment for Highgate graduate HE’S NOT JOKING at the Sovereign Awards when the Practical Joke colt was named Canada’s Champion 2-Year-Old Male.
HE’S NOT JOKING was a dominant force in Woodbine’s 2-year-old division last year from the start.
Debuting going six furlong, he missed the win by just a neck in August with the third placed runner five length behind him. One start later, he took trainer Josie Carroll and owner Gianni Di Scola to the winner’s circle as the race favorite in a seven-furlong race when beating future stakes winner Drexel Hill by 1 ¼ lengths.
#6 HE’S NOT JOKING ($23.00) was serious in victory in the $135,000 Grey Stakes (G3) at @woodbinetb. The juvenile colt by @CoolmoreAmerica‘s Practical Joke was piloted by @kazushi0096 for trainer @jcarrollracing. pic.twitter.com/zkG8SVt3nG
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 3, 2024
Stepped up to the stakes level in the Listed Display Stakes, HE’S NOT JOKING was a good third when becoming yet another stakes performer sold by Highgate. He ended his Woodbine campaign in November in the Grey S. (G3) in a big way.
Closing from the back of the field, HE’S NOT JOKING made it clear he was the best horse in the field when he romped to a four-length victory to become Highgate’s third graded stakes winner.
Bred by James Wasserson, HE’S NOT JOKING sold with Highgate at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $105,000 to Roden Bloodstock on behalf of his racing owner. He is one of three stakes performers from that sale for Highgate alongside BOSTON’S PHINEST and TIGERISH.
