Stakes Roundup: Skippylongstocking Rolls in Challenger
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Photo: SV Photography
Skippylongstocking wins the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking rebounded from his seventh-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) with a commanding victory in the $100,000 Challenger Stakes March 11 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Jockey Irad Ortiz confidently handled the 4-year-old son of Exaggerator , positioning him just off the frontrunning Trademark through opening splits of :23.34 and :47.02. With Ortiz remaining motionless aboard Skippylongstocking on the turn for home, the colt engaged longshot Surly Furious down the lane and strode clear to a 3 1/4-length victory.
Bet down to 1-2 favoritism, Skippylongstocking ($3) was timed in 1:42.52 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track.
Tax got up for second over Surly Furious.
The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee recorded his third graded stakes win on Saturday.
"This is a consistent, hard-trying horse," Joseph said. "He's probably not a true grade 1 horse, but he's a very good grade 3, grade 2 horse, and maybe one day he might get the grade I win he deserves. We threw a pretty hard campaign at him last year, and he bounced back from it and is still in good form."
Video: $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger S. (G3)
MIssion of Joy Improves to 3-for-3 on Turf With Florida Oaks Victory
Rallying from several lengths off the pace and angling out to the center of the Tampa Bay Downs turf course for the stretch run, Mission of Joy outfought Alpha Bella to notch her first stakes victory in Saturday's $150,000 Florida Oaks (G3T).
Mission of Joy prevails over Alpha Bella in the Florida Oaks
The win was her third straight, all coming on grass, following an allowance optional claiming win at Tampa Jan. 18 and a Dec. 3 maiden win there. In her only other start, she finished ninth when racing on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Woodbine Sept. 11.
As in her earlier victories at Tampa, Antonio Gallardo rode Mission of Joy, who raced 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.12, equaling a stakes record set by the Chad Brown-trained Domain Expertise under Gallardo in 2021.
Alpha Bella, who rallied with the winner leaving the second turn before finishing just a neck behind her in a photo, was a clear second, well ahead of third-place Juniper`s Moon. Favored Free Look ran fourth.
Mission of Joy ($12), an Ontario-bred Kitten's Joy 3-year-old filly trained by Graham Motion, races for owners RyZan Sun Racing and Madaket Stables.
Motion won the Florida Oaks for the second time after his initial success with Augustin Stable’s Dynamic Holiday in 2011.
Video: Florida Oaks (G3T)
Frank's Rockette Takes Second Straight in Hurricane Bertie Romp
In South Florida, Bill Mott trainee Frank's Rockette soared home at Gulfstream Park in Saturday's $125,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) for owner Frank Fletcher Racing Operations.
Frank's Rockette draws away to win the Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Under the patient hands of jockey Junior Alvarado, the 6-year-old daughter of Into Mischief ran comfortably in third while stalking the pace behind Fire on Time and R Adios Jersey through fractions of :22.46 and :45.42. At the top of the stretch, the mare made her move easily passing the leaders to take the 6 1/2-furlong dirt event in 1:16.81.
Frank's Rockette was heavily favored after blowout victory Dec. 31 at Gulfstream in the Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3). She paid $2.80 for a $2 win ticket.
Drifaros was elevated to second after stewards demoted R Adios Jersey to third for backstretch interference. She drifted inward from her outside post position in the race's early stages.