Jokestar all business ahead of Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes

Jokestar, trained by Kevin Attard, will look to earn his first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s $175,000 bet365 Eclipse Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile main track event for 4-year-olds and up will see the multiple graded stakes-placed gelding take on six rivals.

A son of Practical Joke out of the Star Guitar mare Starmaline, Jokestar has been a model of consistency over his past 10 starts, posting a record of 4-3-1 over that stretch. The run began with a sharp 17-1 allowance score at Oaklawn Park on Apr. 19, 2025.

“He’s really come into his own,” said Attard. “We have always liked him. It was never a case of if he was going to be the horse we felt he could be, but always a case of when.”

Bred and owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, the 5-year-old heads into his fourth graded stakes appearance in top form. He was second in last year’s Autumn Stakes (G3) and Valedictory Stakes (G3), and fourth in the 2025 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3).

On Feb. 14, Jokestar captured the Post Time Stakes at Laurel Park, drawing off to a 6 ½-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile dirt event. In his most recent start, the March 28 Temperence Hill Stakes at Oaklawn Park, he finished a game second, beaten just a half-length by graded stakes winner Parchment Party in the 1 ½-mile test.

“His last two races have been outstanding,” praised Attard. “He’s added a new dimension to his game, where he’s shown he can be a lot closer to the pace. He’s always been a strong finisher and that hasn’t changed. He still has that impressive late gear.”

The gelding sports a record of 5-4-3 from 21 starts, along with earnings of $402,057, though his first two seasons featured their share of ups and downs.

In his debut on Aug. 13, 2023, Jokestar trailed throughout a one-mile race over Woodbine’s inner turf course, finishing last of 10.

“Definitely not what we were expecting,” recalled Attard. “We knew that wasn’t him and we were confident his next race would be much better. And it was. He finished second and put in a very good effort.”

Jokestar broke through for his first win in his fifth career start, closing out his 2-year-old campaign with a victory at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine main track.

“He showed a lot of character in that win. It was a nice way to end up off his rookie year.”

Over the years, Attard has seen one constant in the Ontario-bred, who contested all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown in 2024.

“He is the prototypical stamina horse. He always has something left in the tank.”