A long campaign that included competing two-thirds of the Triple Crown did not stop Daniel Alonso’s momentum Skippylongstocking . Instead of getting tired of his strict racing schedule, the hard-working son of Magnifier has continued to thrive.
A now 12-year-old backhorse starting the summer of 3 years old, Skippylongstocking scored its first-place winning streak in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) on Aug. Mountaineer Racetrack & Casino.
#7 Skippylongstocking Wins West Virginia G3 Derby!! @SaffieJosephJr
Off with 7/2 odds from light line 5-1
Again @keenelandsales graduate !! pic.twitter.com/tvHBNNirjt
– TVG (@TVG) August 6, 2022
Skippylongstocking is entering the 1/8 mile West Virginia Derby arguably the best performance of his career, failing to be overtaken We who for the June 11 program at Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1). Those two ponies will go head to head again, waging a similar battle at the end of Saturday’s race.
Favored is We the People which arranged the tempo from scratch under Ricardo Santana Jr., skipping the openings of: 24.03 and :47.80 over a sloppy, tight-lipped track. Jockey Edwin Gonzalez aboard Skippinglongstocking won’t let Structure Colt fled to another race with the same carelessness he did in Peter Pan Stakes (G2) back in May, and the rider kept Skippylongstocking in close pursuit of the leader.
Holding on to its dwindling lead in a six-lap run in 1 hour 11.50, We the People was soon stopped by Skippylongstocking with a quarter-mile run. With Simplify who raced in third place for most of the race, unable to get a meaningful bid, the West Virginia Derby demonstrated a skirmish between the two horses.
Skippylongstocking crashed a We the People game, driving in 1/2 the time to stop the timer in 1:48.11.
We the People is already three-quarters ahead of Simplification 4, who started for the first time since sixth on the May 21 (G1) Preakness Stakes.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Skippylongstocking ($9.80) celebrated his third win, improving his lifetime earnings to $672,600.
“This is huge,” said Alonso, a member of a large group in the winner’s circle. “This is our first ranked bet win, and we’re looking forward to it, and we’ll see what happens. Maybe we’ll take out the big boys.”
Bred by Brushy Hill of Kentucky, Skippylongstocking was picked up by Alonso for $37,000 from Ocala Breeder’s Sales in 2021 Sales for 2-year-olds during spring training from Sales Top. A half-brother to the 2021 Lambholm Bay Derby (G3), he is the second pony in War Chant mare Twinkle . His tagless 2-year-old sister, Olivia Twist, was sold for $230,000 to G. Chris Coleman at Ocala Breeders Sales this past spring.
Video: West Virginia Derby (G3)
Fulsome became a millionaire by holding shares of the Governor of West Virginia
An earlier race on the card, a hybrid of Juddmonte Handsome join the millionaires’ club with his crushing win of the $200,000 West Virginia Governor Share (G3) prize.
Fulsome Attracts Clearly In West Virginia Governor’s Shares
It only took 1:43.48 to see why my 4-year-old son Into Mischief has been reduced to 3-5 in betting windows. Trapped between horses after fractions of: 24.05, :47.62 and 1:11.49, rider Paco Lopez turned Fulsome into an obvious turn to get home, and he was swept midway by the leaders. Street. Under steady encouragement, Fulsome finished 1 1/4 the length of a recalcitrant Derby House .
“Paco raced really well,” said Cox assistant Ricky Giannini, who normally takes charge of the West Virginia Derby day. “He didn’t let him back too far even though the horse likes to step back early. Sometimes it’s obvious he loses focus, but Paco says he didn’t. He’s just inferior to horses. type 1 one level, but he’s very honest and consistent.”
Inspector Silver who appeared to challenge Fulsome in the final turn, came in third.
Fulsome, a two-time ranked winner last year as a sophomore in Matt Winn Stakes (G3) and Smarty Jones Stakes (G3), gets 3 to 4 of the year, his only con is the off-balance sheet ending in Alysheba Shares presented by Sentient Jet (G2).
Praised from the family of Juddmonte stars Sightseek , Tates Creek , Expert eye and Special Missions Fulsome is produced from the winning Humorous Distortion mare Prosperous . The dam of five winners from eight ponies to race, Flourish has also made graded stakes Mr. Darcy and deposit Citrus Burst .
Video: Governor of West Virginia S. (G3)
