Skippylongstocking once again showed his performance and came out on top by a dominant score in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 20.
Despite being a respected son of exaggeration Having competed at 12 different tracks during his four seasons on the circuit before April 20, Saturday will be Skippylongstocking’s first appearance at Oaklawn Park. The five-year-old did not disappoint, taking home his sixth career podium for owner Daniel Alonso. For the win, he also secured a starting spot in the May 17 weekend of the $250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) over the Preakness Stakes (G1).
Lining up as the 5-2 favorite in a field of 11 older men, Skippylongstocking broke strongly and closed in on his stablemate, taking the lead District finals , via a :23.21. quarter mile and: 47.62 half mile. Jose Ortiz moved the bay along the far turn and he glided away in command with three furlongs left to run. Creating distance from his rivals, Skippylongstocking held a three-length advantage at the quarter-final pole and moved ahead by two lengths.
“He was happy to watch the other horse,” Ortiz said of Skippylongstocking. “He was very comfortable every step of the way so I was very happy and when I asked him to go, he responded very well.”
Godolphin is specially bred Tay Nguyen Waterfall fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), was willing to place second but couldn’t catch the winner.
Oaklawn Veteran Red Route One The second choice, 7-2 with Highland Falls, launched a late rally from behind to move into third place.
Skippylongstocking stopped the timers at 1:49 for the 1/8 mile on the fast main track, completing his final eighth mile in a quick: 12.11. Carrying a high weight of 122 pounds, he returned $7.60 for a winning ticket worth $2.
With Skippylongstocking’s Oaklawn win, the Ocala Breeders’ 2021 spring training 2-year-old’s $37,000 purchase pushed his sponsorship past the $2 million earnings mark la. Among the trophies the horse has collected over the years are wins in the 2023 Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2), the 2022 West Virginia Derby (G3), the 2022 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3) and the consecutive editions of the Challenger Stakes. (G3) (2023-24) at Tampa Downs Bay. He also finished third in the 2022 Belmont Stakes (G1) and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Skippylongstocking’s connection during the trophy presentation for the Oaklawn Handicap
The year didn’t start well for Skippylongstocking, who was pulled up in the final turn of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) in January and did not finish the race. Joseph said after the race that he believed the horse had overheated. However, Skippylongstocking rebounded by 2 1/2 lengths in the March 9 Challenger Stakes against his Oaklawn bid.
Bred by Brushy Hill in Kentucky, Skippylongstocking was one of three racing stakes-winning colts produced from the War Chant mare Twinkling. He is currently the leading money earner for his sire, the 2016 Preakness Stakes hero exaggeration. Originally based at WinStar Farms, Exaggerator was transferred to Elite Thoroughbreds in Folsom, La., after the 2021 breeding season. In addition to Skippylongstocking, another son of Exaggerator making headlines recently is Harry Veruchi West Saratoga . A Grade 3 winner of last year’s Iroquois Stakes (G3) at 2, the colt punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a runner-up finish in the March 23 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). .The magnifier supports the 2024 breeding season for a fee of $5,000.
Videotapes: Oaklawn H. (G2)
Athlete Asmussen finished 1-2 in the Bathroom row
Knowledgeable patriots 1-2 lead for coach Steve Asmussen when he blocked Royal gun to receive Bathhouse Row’s $200,000 bet.
Registering the first stakes win of his eight-start career, Savvy Patriot earned an automatic berth in the May 18 Preakness Stakes at Bathhouse Row. Last year, Asmussen trained Red Route One scored at Bathhouse Row before finishing fourth in the Preakness.
Campaigned by Kirk and Judy Robison, the Savvy Patriot ($8.80) stopped the clock in 1:51.48 for the 1 1/8-mile distance on the fast main track. Ricardo Santana Jr. drove the son of Pull hard Better header than Imperial Gun with Gould’s Gold complete the trifecta.
Videotapes: Bathroom row S. (BT)
