Practical Move (April 30, 2020 – October 31, 2023) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and Grade II San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park in 2023 as a three-year-old.[2]

Practical Move
SirePractical Joke
GrandsireInto Mischief
DamAck Naughty
DamsireAfleet Alex
SexColt
FoaledApril 30, 2020[1]
DiedOctober 31, 2023(2023-10-31) (aged 3)
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California, U.S.
CountryUnited States
ColorBay
BreederChad C. Brown & Head of Plains Partners
OwnerPierre Jean & Leslie A. Amestoy & Roger K. Beasley
TrainerTim Yakteen
Record8: 5-1-2
Earnings$923,200[2]
Major wins
Los Alamitos Futurity (2022)
San Felipe Stakes (2023)
Santa Anita Derby (2023)
Last updated on 31 October 2023

Background

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Practical Move was a bay colt that was bred in Kentucky by Chad C. Brown & Head of Plains Partners. He was sired by Practical Joke, winner of the 2016 Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.[3] Trainer Chad Brown also trained Practical Joke. Out of the Afleet Alex mare Ack Naughty, Practical Move was a $90,000 (Reserve Not Attained) at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale before Eisaman Equine consigned him at Ocala Breeders' Sale. Pierre Jean & Leslie A. Amestoy bought Practical Move for $230,000 at the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of two-year-olds in Training.

Practical Joke stands at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky for $25,000 in 2023. Through 2023 Practical Joke is the sire of 20 black-type stakes winners.[4]

Practical Move was trained by Tim Yakteen.

Racing career

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2022: two-year-old season

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Practical Move ran five times in 2022 for two wins including the GII Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course.[2]

2023: three-year-old season

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Practical Move has run twice for two victories and easily qualified for the 2023 Kentucky Derby winning major qualification events on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Grade II San Felipe Stakes and then the Grade I Santa Anita Derby by a nose.[4]

Practical Move was drawn in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, but two days before the race trainer Tim Yakteen scratched the horse after he spiked a temperature. This allowed the Dale Romans-trained Cyclone Mischief to draw in from the also-eligible list.[5]

Death

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Practical Move collapsed and died at Santa Anita Park in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on October 31, 2023. He was three years old. The horse's preliminary cause of death is a heart attack.[6]

Statistics

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Date Distance Race Grade Track Odds Field Finish Winning
Time
Winning
(Losing)
Margin
Jockey Ref
2022 – Two-year-old season
Aug 13, 2022 6+12 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Del Mar 24.60 9 2 1:15.81 (6 lengths) Drayden Van Dyke [7]
Sep 3, 2022 6+12 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Del Mar 3.80 10 3 1:16.62 (3+34 lengths) Drayden Van Dyke [8]
Oct 10, 2022 1 mile Maiden Special Weight Santa Anita 2.20 9 1[a] 1:38.82 (1+12 lengths) Drayden Van Dyke [9]
Nov 20, 2022 7 furlongs Bob Hope Stakes III Del Mar 9.30 5 3 1:21.68 (3+34 lengths) Drayden Van Dyke [10]
Dec 17, 2022 1+116 miles Los Alamitos Futurity II Los Alamitos 10.60 5 1 1:41.65 3+14 lengths Ramon Vazquez [11]
2023 – Three-year-old season
Mar 4, 2023 1+116 miles San Felipe Stakes II Santa Anita 4.20 9 1 1:42.01 2+12 lengths Ramon Vazquez [12]
Apr 8, 2023 1+18 miles Santa Anita Derby I Santa Anita 1.00* 8 1 1:48.69 nose Ramon Vazquez [13]
Oct 6, 2023 1 mile Allowance Optional Claiming Santa Anita 0.40* 4 1 1:35.14 4 lengths Ramon Vazquez [14]

Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Practical Move was the post-time favorite.

  1. ^ Practical Move finished second in the event to Fort Bragg who was disqualified and placed second for lugging out into the path of Practical Move at the top of the lane then lugging in and making contact midstretch

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Practical Move, Bay colt, April 30, 2020[1]
Sire
Practical Joke
(2004)
Into Mischief
(2005)
Harlan's Holiday
(1999)
Harlan (1989)
Christmas In Aiken (1993)
Leslie's Lady
(1996)
Tricky Creek (1986)
Crystal Lady (CAN) (1990)
Halo Humor
(2003)
Distorted Humor
(1993)
Forty Niner (1985)
Danzig's Beauty (1987)
Gilded Halo
(1996)
Gilded Time (1990)
Careless Halo (1989)
Dam
Ack Naughty
(2012)
Afleet Alex
(2002)
Northern Afleet
(1993)
Afleet (CAN) (1984)
Nuryette (1986)
Maggy Hawk
(1994)
Hawkster (1986)
Qualique (1981)
Dash for Money
(2000)
General Meeting
(1988)
Seattle Slew (1974)
Alydar's Promise (1983)
Hot Lear
(1995)
Lear Fan (1981)
Medicine Woman (1985) (family 2f)[15]


References

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  1. ^ a b "Pedigree of Practical Move". Equineline. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Profile of Practical Move". Equibase. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Profile of Practical Joke". Equibase. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Gantz, Tracy (April 8, 2023). "Practical Move Edges Mandarin Hero in SA Derby; Skinner rallied wide to finish a close third". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Practical Move scratched from Kentucky Derby due to fever". wlky.com. WLKY. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  6. ^ BloodHorse Staff (October 31, 2023). "Practical Move Dies of Apparent Cardiac Event The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner collapsed following a gallop at Santa Anita Park". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  7. ^ "Del Mar: Maiden Special Weight (race 7)". www.equibase.com. August 13, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "Del Mar: Maiden Special Weight (race 6)". www.equibase.com. September 3, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Santa Anita Park: Maiden Special Weight (race 6)". www.equibase.com. October 10, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  10. ^ "Bob Hope Stakes (Grade 3 – race 8)". equibase.com. November 20, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  11. ^ "2022 Los Alamitos Futurity Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. December 17, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  12. ^ "2023 San Felipe Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. March 4, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Grade 1 - (race 6)". Equibase. April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  14. ^ "Chart Santa Anita Park Allowance Optional Claiming - October 6, 2023 (race 8)". Equibase. October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  15. ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – HYACINTHUS MARE (GB) – Family 2-f". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved October 9, 2022.